MARTIN, BERTRAM
Photograph with kind permission from the Uttoxeter Advertiser
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Source |
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CWGC |
SDGW |
Uttoxeter Advertiser |
Other |
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Parents |
Thomas and Lizzie Martin |
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7c |
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Where born |
Uttoxeter |
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Yes |
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3, 7c |
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When born |
1891 |
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7c |
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Address |
Walker’s Yard, Uttoxeter (self)
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1c |
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Bradley Street (Parents) |
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3 |
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Spouse |
Yes |
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1c |
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Children |
2 |
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1c |
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Employment Before Joining up |
Employed by the North Staffordshire Railway Company as a stoker at Ashbourne |
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1c |
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Where enlisted |
Uttoxeter |
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Yes |
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Regiment & Unit |
Royal Engineers - |
Yes |
Yes |
1c |
3, 4 |
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179th Tunnelling Company |
Yes |
Yes |
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3 |
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Rank |
Sapper |
Yes |
Yes |
1b, 1c, 1d, 1f, 1g |
3, 4 |
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Service Number |
95912 |
Yes |
Yes |
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3, 4 |
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Date of Death |
26 August 1916 |
Yes |
Yes |
1e, 1f, 1g |
3 |
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Age at time of death |
25 |
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1c |
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Where Killed or died |
France/Flanders: Somme - Albert |
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1e, 1f |
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How he died |
Killed in Action |
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Yes |
1d, 1e, 1f, 1g |
3 |
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Location of Grave or Memorial |
Albert Communal Cemetery Extension Grave I. N. 52. |
Yes |
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Uttoxeter Town ~War Memorial |
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3 |
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North Stafforshhire Railway War Memorial, Stoke Station |
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3 |
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Awards |
1915 Star RE/4B Page 2216 |
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Victory Medal RE/101 B105 Page 22480 |
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4 |
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British Medal RE/101 B105 Page 22480 |
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4 |
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Bertram was one of four sons who served during the war1a.
Before joining-up he had been employed by the North Staffordshire Railway Company as a stoker at Ashbourne.
According to the Obituary in the Uttoxeter Advertiser, Bertram was the second son of Mr. Martin of Bradley Street1c and he joined the army in March 19151c. His Medal Card4 tells us that he first went to France on 18th October 1915.
In January 1916 the Uttoxeter Advertiser published a list of soldiers who had acknowledged Christmas parcels sent to them by the Uttoxeter townsfolk1b. This list included Sapper B. Martin.
In the army he was a despatch rider for his section1c and was, according to the Chaplain, carrying a message to the trenches when he was killed1c.
He was killed in action at Albert1e.
Bertram left a wife and two children1c.
Bertram’s Medal Card4 is intriguing. It lists his medals as Victory Medal, British Medal and 15 Star, and states that his Victory Medal and British Medal were “Retd/ (992 K.R. 1923)”. Does this mean that they were returned for some reason? If so, why?
All of the memorial notices that follow were posted in the Uttoxeter Advertiser to mark the anniversaries of his death:
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This was posted in August 19171e to mark the first anniversary of his death |
In Loving Memory of Bertram Martin, who was killed in action at Albert, August 26, 1916. But oh for the touch of a vanished hand And for the sound of a voice that is still. - From his Loving Wife, Mother, Father, Sister and Brothers. |
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This followed a year later in August 19181f |
In Loving Memory of Sapper B. Martin, of Uttoxeter, who was killed in action at Albert, August 26, 1916. - Ever remembered by his Wife, Mother, Father, Sister and Brothers. |
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The third anniversary was commemorated in this way in August 19191g. By now the war had been over for 9 months. |
In Loving Memory of Sapper Bertram Martin, who was killed in action on August 26, 1916. - Ever remembered by his Loving Wife. |