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{{Infobox
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{{infobox soldier
| name           = William Clarence Martin DSO & Bar
+
| image           = [[File:Martin_William_Clarence_Dease.jpg|border|400px]]
 
+
| caption         =
| title          =
+
| image2         = [[File:Martin_William_Clarence_DCM_&_Bar.jpg|border|400px]]
| above          =
+
| caption2       = Western Mail 12 May 1916
| subheader      =
+
| dateofbirth   = 28 Dec 1890
 
+
| placeofbirth   = Jarrahdale, Western Australia
 
+
| death           = 29 Jan 1970, aged 79
|  image        = [[File:Martin_William_Clarence_Dease.jpg|border|400px]]
+
| placeofdeath   = Floreat Park, Western Australia
| caption       =  
+
| enlistmentage   = 24 years, 7 months
|   image2       = [[File:Martin_William_Clarence_DCM_&_Bar.jpg|border|400px]]
+
| description   = 5' 6½" (1.69m) tall; weight 156 lbs (70.8 kg); fair complexion, grey eyes and fair hair. Scar over right eye.
| caption2       = Western Mail 12 May 1916
+
| height          = 5' 6½" (1.69m)
 
+
| weight          = 156 lbs
|headerstyle  = background:#ccf;
+
| complexion      = fair
|labelstyle   = background:#ddf;
+
| eyes            = grey
|datastyle    =
+
| hair            = fair
 
+
| descriptionnote = Scar over right eye.
| header1  = Personal Information
+
| occupation   = Sleeper cutter
 
+
| religion   = Church of England
|  label2  = Date of Birth
+
| address   = Kelmscott, Western Australia
|  data2  = 28 Dec 1890
+
| relation   = Father
 
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| nextofkin      = Mr George Kerslie Martin
|  label3  = Place of Birth
+
| regnumber   = [https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=3000975 1340]
data3  = Jarrahdale, Western Australia
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| enlistmentdate = 22 Jul 1915
 
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| rank           = Sergeant
| label4  = Death
+
| unit      = 10th Light Horse Regiment, 10th Reinforcement / 3rd Light Horse Brigade, NZ and Australian Division
|  data4  = 29 Jan 1970, aged 79
+
| embarkationdatefrom = 13 Oct 1915  
 
+
| embarkationdateto = ? Nov 1915
|  label5  = Place of Death
+
| shipembarked   = [[HMAT A32 Themistocles]]
data5  = Floreat Park, Western Australia
+
| embarkedshipnote = Fremantle to Port Suez
 
+
| embarkationdatefrom2 =
|  label6  = Age at Enlistment
+
| embarkationdateto2 =  
data6  = 24 years, 7 months
+
| shipembarked2   =
 
+
| embarkedshipnote2 =
|  label7  = Description
+
| dateofreturnfrom = 29 Apr 1919  
data7  = 5' 6½" (1.69m) tall; weight 156 lbs (70.8 kg); fair complexion, grey eyes and fair hair. Scar over right eye.  
+
| dateofreturnto = 29 May 1919
 
+
| shipreturned    = [[SS Dorset]]  
| label8  = Occupation
+
| shipreturnednote = Port Said to Fremantle
|   data8  = sleeper cutter
+
| dateofreturnfrom2 =
 
+
| dateofreturnto2 =  
| label9  = Religion
+
| shipreturned2    =
data9  = Church of England
+
| shipreturnednote2 =
 
+
| fate1           = Returned to Australia
|  label10  = Address
+
| fate2          =
data10  = Kelmscott, Western Australia
+
| fate3          =
 
+
| fate4          =
| label11 = Next of Kin
+
| monument1   = [[Kelmscott War Memorial]]  
|   data11 = Father  Mr George Kerslie Martin
+
| monumentnote1  = (North Panel)
 
+
| monument2   =
| header12 = Military Information
+
| monumentnote2  =
 
+
| monument3   =
|  label13 = Reg Number
+
| monumentnote3  =
|  data13 = 1340
+
| monument4   =
 
+
| monumentnote4  =
label14 = Date of Enlistment
+
| monument5   =
|  data14 = 22 Jul 1915
+
| monumentnote5  =
 
+
| monument6   =
| label15 = Rank
+
| monumentnote6  =
|  data15 = Sergeant
+
| monumentawm    =
 
+
| monumentawmnote =
| label16 = Unit/Formation
+
| monumentother  =
|  data16 = 10th Light Horse Regiment, 10th Reinforcement / 3rd Light Horse Brigade, NZ and Australian Division
+
| monumentothernote =
 
+
| medal1   = [[Distinguished Conduct Medal]]
 
+
| medal2          = [[1914-15 Star]]
|  label17 = Date of Embarkation
+
| medal3          = [[British War Medal]]
|   data17 = 13 Oct 1915 - unknown at Port Suez
+
| medal4          = [[Victory Medal]]
 
 
| label18 = Ship Embarked On
 
data18 = [[HMAT A32 Themistocles]]
 
 
 
| label19 = Date of Return
 
data19 = 29 Apr 1919 - 29 May 1919
 
 
 
label20 = Ship Returned On
 
|   data20 = [[SS Dorset]] from Port Said
 
 
 
label21 = Fate
 
|   data21 = Returned to Australia
 
 
 
| label22 = Monument
 
data22 = [[Kelmscott]]
 
 
 
| label23 = Medals
 
data23 = [[Distinguished Service Order]]<br />[[1914-15 Star]]<br />[[British War Medal]]<br />[[Victory Medal]]
 
 
 
 
}}
 
}}
  
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==War Service==
 
==War Service==
Martin enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on 13 July 1915 and in October embarked at Fremantle with the 10th reinforcements for the 10th Light Horse.  Too late for Gallipoli, they landed in Egypt in November and joined their unit the next month.
+
<blockquote>Martin enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on 13 July 1915 and on October 13th he embarked on board [[HMAT A32 Themistocles]] at Fremantle with the 10th reinforcements for the 10th Light Horse.  Too late for Gallipoli, they landed in Egypt in November and joined their unit the next month on its return from Gallipoli.
 
    
 
    
Early in 1916 the regiment took part in the Egyptian Expeditionary Force's advance across Sinai into Palestine. Martin joined the 3rd Light Horse Brigade scouts during 1916 and as early as September 1917 was recommended for an award.
+
Early in 1916 the regiment took part in the Egyptian Expeditionary Force's advance across Sinai into Palestine. Martin joined the 3rd Light Horse Brigade scouts during 1916. In April 1917 he was promoted to Lance Corporal, and after spraining his ankle in September, spent time in a rehabilitation camp at Port Said, Egypt.  Soon after he was promoted Corporal, and on the day that he was confirmed in that rank, he was made a Lance Sergeant.  Promotion to Troop Sergeant occured nine months later in July 1918, after he had distinguished himself in the first of two separate incidents providing strong leadership to the troop of scouts that he commanded.
 
   
 
   
In November he was promoted Lance Sergeant.  By April 1918 the British had reached the Jordan.  During a difficult and ultimately unsuccessful raid 29 April on Es Salt across the Jordan, Martin led an advanced section of the brigade scouts. He and another scout crept up on a Turkish observation post, captured two of the enemy and killed the rest. Martin was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal.
+
In November he was promoted Lance Sergeant.  By April 1918 the British had reached the Jordan.  William's first Distinguished Conduct Medal was awarded for his efforts on 30 April 1918 in the battle known as Es Salt, an Arab village just to the west of Amman (now the capital of Jordan). Leading the advance on Es Salt through mountainous territory, William and a scout colleague encountered a standing patrol of three enemy, one of whom they killed, and the other two they captured.  Soon after a larger group of fifteen enemy cavalry troopers were met by William and a now slightly larger group of four or five Australians.  William immediately ordered an attack on the larger force, and they bolted for safety leaving six of their horses behind. Although his DCM was 'awarded in the field', the citation for his award was not published until later.
 +
 
 +
After the failure to secure Es Salt the troops spent four months in the Jordan valley in oppressive heat. In September the British planned to take Damascus. On 20 Sep 1918, during the great northern cavalry drive which split apart the Turkish defence of Palestine, at a village named Kefr Adan, Sgt Martin led his scouts into the village and encountered a large group of Turks.  He and a companion rode into the village while the remaining scouts rode around the left side of the village.  Martin and his colleague quickly captured some of the Turks, but when they were handed over to members of the 9th Light Horse to escort from the battlefield, they were found to number 200.
 
    
 
    
After the failure to secure Es Salt the troops spent four months in the Jordan valley in oppressive heat. In September the British planned to take Damascus. On the night of 27-28 September, the 10th Light Horse, to which Martin had returned in June, forced the Jordan crossing above Jisr Benat Yakub in the face of heavy machine-gun and rifle fire. Martin was riding close to his troop commander when the latter was woundedHe took command and pushed on with the charge. The ground was impossible for horses, so the men dismounted in the semidarkness and, with Martin in the lead, rushed at the enemy with bayonets and engaged in hand-to-hand fighting. Over fifty prisoners and two machine-guns were captured. Martin was awarded a Bar to his D.C.M. and promoted sergeant on 6 November.
+
On the night of 27-28 Sep 1918, the 10th Light Horse forced the Jordan crossing above Jisr Benat Yakub in the face of heavy machine-gun and rifle fire. The group that he was travelling with encountered a mixed German and Turk force of fifty men with machine guns.  At this time his troop was travelling through very difficult country in single fileAfter his officer was wounded in the arm, William took command and pushed on with the charge. The ground was impossible for horses, so the men dismounted.  Guided by the gun flashes he led the men towards the enemy, and while the rest of B Squadron surrounded the enemy, he led his group in a bayonet charge on foot.  After they had killed several of the enemy and the rest of B Squadron fired in their support, the remaining enemy surrendered.  12 Germans and 40 Turks, along with a field gun and a machine gun were captured. Martin was awarded a Bar to his D.C.M. and promoted sergeant on 6 Nov 1918.
 
   
 
   
 
In the opinion of his commanding officer, Martin was not only 'exceptionally brave', but possessed a 'rare intelligence and cool judgment which did not impair his brilliancy and dash'; his guide work was 'really wonderful'.
 
In the opinion of his commanding officer, Martin was not only 'exceptionally brave', but possessed a 'rare intelligence and cool judgment which did not impair his brilliancy and dash'; his guide work was 'really wonderful'.
 
    
 
    
In April 1919 Martin was invalided to Western Australia with malaria and discharged from the A.I.F. on 25 October 1919.<ref>Andrew Bratley</ref>
+
In April 1919 Martin was invalided to Western Australia with malaria and discharged from the A.I.F. on 25 Oct 1919.<ref>Andrew Bratley</ref></blockquote>
  
 
==Award Comment==
 
==Award Comment==
 
''Distinguished Conduct Medal''
 
''Distinguished Conduct Medal''
<blockquote>He was in charge of a section of the brigade scouts acting ahead of the brigade on its advance from Jisr ed Damie to Es Salt on 30 April, 1918. He and one member of his section advanced to within 25 yards of an enemy observation post, unobserved, and captured two of the enemy and killed the remaining enemy.<ref>'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 135 Date: 11 December 1919.</ref></blockquote>
+
<blockquote>This non-commissioned officer was in charge of a section of the Brigade scouts acting ahead of the Brigade on its advance from JISR ED DAMIE to ES SALT on 29th April, 1918. This non-commissioned officer and one member of his section advanced to within 25 yards of an enemy observation post, unobserved, and captured two of the enemy and killed the remaining enemy. Recommended for DCM. <ref>'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 135 Date: 11 December 1919.</ref></blockquote>
  
 
''Bar to Distinguished Conduct Medal''   
 
''Bar to Distinguished Conduct Medal''   
<blockquote>For gallantry and devotion to duty on the night of 27-28 September, 1918. When the regiment forced the crossing across the river Jordan in the face of heavy machine gun and rifle fire, this non-commissioned officer, after his troop leader was wounded, assumed command and gallantly pushed on against the enemy's position, which resulted in the capture of fifty prisoners and two machine guns.'  <ref>'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 42  Date: 20 May 1920</ref></blockquote>
+
<blockquote>For gallantry and devotion to duty on the night of 27-28 September, 1918. When the Regiment forced the crossing across the river Jordan above JISH KEMAT YAKOS in the face of heavy machine gun and rifle fire, this non-commissioned officer, who was riding close to his troop officer when the later was wounded, assumed command of the troop and gallantly pushed on with the charge against the enemy's position, which resulted in the capture of fifty prisoners and two machine guns. Considering the roughness of the ground and the posi-largious (?) of the evening this non-commissioned officer's performance was a most meritorious one'  <ref>'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 42  Date: 20 May 1920</ref></blockquote><ref> https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/awm-media/collection/RCDIG1068812/document/5518243.PDF </ref>
  
 
==Post War==
 
==Post War==
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==Notes==
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==References==
  
 
<references />
 
<references />
  
 
==External Links==
 
==External Links==
 +
*[https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=189698 AIF Project]
 +
*[https://rslvirtualwarmemorial.org.au/explore/people/195325 RSL Virtual War Memorial]
  
 
{{DEFAULTSORT:Martin , William Clarence Martin DSO & Bar}}
 
{{DEFAULTSORT:Martin , William Clarence Martin DSO & Bar}}
  
 
[[Category:Soldier]]
 
[[Category:Soldier]]
 +
[[Category:10th Light Horse Regiment]]
 +
[[Category:1914-15 Star]]
 +
[[Category:Distinguished Conduct Medal]]
 +
[[Category:Returned to Australia]]
 +
[[Category:Born Australia]]
 +
[[Category:Born WA]]
 +
[[Category:Church of England]]
 +
[[Category:Sleeper cutter]]
 +
[[Category:Armadale-Kelmscott]]

Revision as of 14:51, 12 March 2019

William Clarence Martin DCM & Bar
Martin William Clarence Dease.jpg
Martin William Clarence DCM & Bar.jpg
Western Mail 12 May 1916
Personal Information
Date of Birth 28 Dec 1890
Place of Birth Jarrahdale, Western Australia
Death 29 Jan 1970, aged 79
Place of Death Floreat Park, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment 24 years, 7 months
Description 5' 6½" (1.69m) tall ; 156 lbs
70.76 kg
; fair complexion ; grey eyes ; fair hair ; Scar over right eye.
Occupation Sleeper cutter
Religion Church of England
Address Kelmscott, Western Australia
Next of Kin Father , Mr George Kerslie Martin
Military Information
Reg Number 1340
Date of Enlistment 22 Jul 1915
Rank Sergeant
Unit/Formation 10th Light Horse Regiment, 10th Reinforcement / 3rd Light Horse Brigade, NZ and Australian Division
Date of Embarkation 13 Oct 1915 ‒ ? Nov 1915
Ship Embarked On HMAT A32 Themistocles Fremantle to Port Suez
Date of Return 29 Apr 1919 ‒ 29 May 1919
Ship Returned On SS Dorset Port Said to Fremantle
Fate Returned to Australia
Monument Kelmscott War Memorial (North Panel)
Medals Distinguished Conduct Medal
1914-15 Star
British War Medal
Victory Medal



Pre War

“William Clarence Martin (1890-1970), horseman, soldier and pastoralist, was born on 28 December 1890 at Jarrahdale, Western Australia, son of George Kersley Martin, labourer, and his wife Rose Sarah, née Markwell. He attended Kelmscott Primary School until he was 14, then went as a jackaroo to a station in the Murchison district." [1]

War Service

Martin enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on 13 July 1915 and on October 13th he embarked on board HMAT A32 Themistocles at Fremantle with the 10th reinforcements for the 10th Light Horse. Too late for Gallipoli, they landed in Egypt in November and joined their unit the next month on its return from Gallipoli.

Early in 1916 the regiment took part in the Egyptian Expeditionary Force's advance across Sinai into Palestine. Martin joined the 3rd Light Horse Brigade scouts during 1916. In April 1917 he was promoted to Lance Corporal, and after spraining his ankle in September, spent time in a rehabilitation camp at Port Said, Egypt. Soon after he was promoted Corporal, and on the day that he was confirmed in that rank, he was made a Lance Sergeant. Promotion to Troop Sergeant occured nine months later in July 1918, after he had distinguished himself in the first of two separate incidents providing strong leadership to the troop of scouts that he commanded.

In November he was promoted Lance Sergeant. By April 1918 the British had reached the Jordan. William's first Distinguished Conduct Medal was awarded for his efforts on 30 April 1918 in the battle known as Es Salt, an Arab village just to the west of Amman (now the capital of Jordan). Leading the advance on Es Salt through mountainous territory, William and a scout colleague encountered a standing patrol of three enemy, one of whom they killed, and the other two they captured. Soon after a larger group of fifteen enemy cavalry troopers were met by William and a now slightly larger group of four or five Australians. William immediately ordered an attack on the larger force, and they bolted for safety leaving six of their horses behind. Although his DCM was 'awarded in the field', the citation for his award was not published until later.

After the failure to secure Es Salt the troops spent four months in the Jordan valley in oppressive heat. In September the British planned to take Damascus. On 20 Sep 1918, during the great northern cavalry drive which split apart the Turkish defence of Palestine, at a village named Kefr Adan, Sgt Martin led his scouts into the village and encountered a large group of Turks. He and a companion rode into the village while the remaining scouts rode around the left side of the village. Martin and his colleague quickly captured some of the Turks, but when they were handed over to members of the 9th Light Horse to escort from the battlefield, they were found to number 200.

On the night of 27-28 Sep 1918, the 10th Light Horse forced the Jordan crossing above Jisr Benat Yakub in the face of heavy machine-gun and rifle fire. The group that he was travelling with encountered a mixed German and Turk force of fifty men with machine guns. At this time his troop was travelling through very difficult country in single file. After his officer was wounded in the arm, William took command and pushed on with the charge. The ground was impossible for horses, so the men dismounted. Guided by the gun flashes he led the men towards the enemy, and while the rest of B Squadron surrounded the enemy, he led his group in a bayonet charge on foot. After they had killed several of the enemy and the rest of B Squadron fired in their support, the remaining enemy surrendered. 12 Germans and 40 Turks, along with a field gun and a machine gun were captured. Martin was awarded a Bar to his D.C.M. and promoted sergeant on 6 Nov 1918.

In the opinion of his commanding officer, Martin was not only 'exceptionally brave', but possessed a 'rare intelligence and cool judgment which did not impair his brilliancy and dash'; his guide work was 'really wonderful'.

In April 1919 Martin was invalided to Western Australia with malaria and discharged from the A.I.F. on 25 Oct 1919.[2]

Award Comment

Distinguished Conduct Medal

This non-commissioned officer was in charge of a section of the Brigade scouts acting ahead of the Brigade on its advance from JISR ED DAMIE to ES SALT on 29th April, 1918. This non-commissioned officer and one member of his section advanced to within 25 yards of an enemy observation post, unobserved, and captured two of the enemy and killed the remaining enemy. Recommended for DCM. [3]

Bar to Distinguished Conduct Medal

For gallantry and devotion to duty on the night of 27-28 September, 1918. When the Regiment forced the crossing across the river Jordan above JISH KEMAT YAKOS in the face of heavy machine gun and rifle fire, this non-commissioned officer, who was riding close to his troop officer when the later was wounded, assumed command of the troop and gallantly pushed on with the charge against the enemy's position, which resulted in the capture of fifty prisoners and two machine guns. Considering the roughness of the ground and the posi-largious (?) of the evening this non-commissioned officer's performance was a most meritorious one' [4]
[5]

Post War

Electoral Roll entries : 1916 - 1925 sleeper cutter at Inglehope near Holyoake; 1925 - 1968 pastoralist at Mt Padbury Station.

Following his discharge, Bill went droving in the Kimberley.

Later, using money earned from droving and his entitlement under the repatriation land settlement scheme, he bought the major share in Mount Padbury Pastoral Co. near Meekatharra. He lived there until selling out about 1969.

He had married Nellie Cooree Francisco at St Mary's Anglican Church, West Perth, on 25 January 1923. They had a son but the marriage ended in divorce.

Bill Martin was a rugged character, about 5 ft 9 ins (175 cm) tall, and a good horseman and buckjumper who loved mustering and camping out. He died of leukaemia in Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Perth, on 29 January 1970, leaving an estate of $72,154, and was cremated with Anglican rites.

On the basis of his appearance and performance he was chosen to represent light horsemen in a series of paintings of the A.I.F. commissioned by the Australian War Museum Committee. Two portraits by Frank Crozier are in the Australian War Memorial.”[6]


References

  1. Australian Dictionary of Biography Vol 10, 1986
  2. Andrew Bratley
  3. 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 135 Date: 11 December 1919.
  4. 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 42 Date: 20 May 1920
  5. https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/awm-media/collection/RCDIG1068812/document/5518243.PDF
  6. Andrew Bratley

External Links