Name
Homer Martindale
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
32427
Hampshire Regiment
12th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Biography
Homer Martindale was born in the winter of 1878 at Bedmond. He was one of ten children (five sons and five daughters) born to George Martindale and his wife. Homer’s brother, Arthur also served in the Great War. The family lived at Pimlico where George worked as a Labourer. Homer married Florence Ewer in the summer of 1899 at Watford, and in 1901 he was recorded in the Census living at Bellfield Bedmond, and working as a Bricklayer. A daughter, Edith, had been born in 1900 at Abbots Langley. Florence died in the autumn of 1901, and by 1911 Homer was recorded living at Bedmond with his mother, sister Ada, and daughter, and was working as a General Labourer.
On 10th December 1915 Homer enlisted, aged 37 years and 11 months, and initially joined the Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment (QRWS). His older brother, Arthur, joined the same regiment in January 1917. Homer was returned home and subsequently was recalled and posted for duty on 13th June 1916. Homer was first recorded in the Abbots Langley Parish Magazine Roll of Honour in July 1916, however his unit was not given. In the August 1916 Magazine he was recorded serving with the QRWS.
On 16th November 1916 he embarked at Devonport with the 12th Battalion of the Hampshire Regiment. He disembarked at Salonika on 2nd December 1916 and was eventually posted to the battalion “In the Field” on 29th April 1917.
On 28th August 1918 Homer was admitted to 28 Casualty Clearing Station having received three gun-shot wounds – two to the face and one in the foot. He was transferred to 80 General Hospital in Salonika for recovery.
He was back at 80 General Hospital on 25th November 1918 suffering from Jaundice, and was subsequently transferred to 48 General Hospital and then 52 General Hospital, both at Salonika on 3rd and 27th December respectively. The illness continued and on 12th February 1919 he embarked for the UK, and between 4th March and 3rd April 1919 was admitted to the Holborn Military Hospital, Western Road, Mitcham. On 2nd May 1919 he was demobilised and was transferred to the Army Reserve.
Homer was recorded in the Absent Voter Records for Autumn 1918 and Spring 1919, serving with the 12th Hampshire’s, and his address was given at Bedmond.
Homer Martindale survived the Great War, as did his brother Arthur, and his nephew Frank. However another nephew, George, died of wounds in France in April 1917.
Additional Information
Formerly Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment
Acknowledgments
Roger Yapp - www.backtothefront.org
