Poppy In memoriam Poppy

Private Alexander Martin

 

 

Martin1

 

Private Alexander Martin was the fifth son of James and Sarah Martin of Killycolpy, Stewartstown, County Tyrone. He enlisted with the North Irish Horse at Antrim on 25 May 1915 (Service No.1610). At the time he was living with his aunt, Mrs Straghan at 14 Cromwell Road, Belfast. He was working for the firm of Rennick, Robinson & Co.

Martin later transferred to the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers (No. 40651), and was sent to France as a reinforcement for the 10th Battalion on 9 January 1917. He was killed in action on 20 November 1917 during the opening phase of the Battle of Cambrai. He was aged 27. One of his brothers was wounded in action on 16th August 1917 at the Third Battle of Ypres, but recovered.  Another brother was serving in the Royal Navy.

Martin has no known grave, and is commemorated at Cambrai Memorial, Louverval, Nord, France, Panel 5 or 6.

 

 

Martin2

 

Images of memorial kindly provided by Steve Rogers, Project Co-ordinator of the The War Graves Photographic Project, www.twgpp.org. Image of Private Martin and some of the above information sourced from Friends of the Somme, Mid Ulster Branch, www.cookstownwardead.co.uk.