Herbert Henry Martin

Date of birth:                   1889
Place of birth:                 Otterbourne, Hampshire
Service No.:                     8140
Rank:                                  Drummer
Regiment / Division:   Dorsetshire Regiment
Battalion:                         2^nd Battalion
Died:                                   14^th May 1916 aged 26 years
Death Location:             Mesopotamia

Life before the War

Herbert’s father, John, was born in 1829, Twyford, Hampshire. His mother was Emily Jane born 1859 in Chilcombe, Hampshire.

Herbert had  4 brothers  Albert b.1875,  Alfred b.1879, William b.1880 and Charles F b,1892 he also had 2 sisters Alice b.1883 and Ada Victoria b.1895.

In  the census of 1891, Emily was living with children William, Alice, Herbert and Bertha,  at Allbrook Street, Otterbourne, Hampshire. Emily worked as a Laundress which was her own business and run from home, Bertha was employed as a General Servant Domestic. Her husband was not present at the time of the census.

In the census of 1901 the family lived at 92, Cranbury Road, Eastleigh, Hampshire. John was employed as a General Labourer, whilst Emily still continued with her own business as a Laundress.

By the 1911 census, Emily was widowed and  living as a lodger at 177, Northam Road, Southampton where she was a Temporary Cook Domestic. Ada was living with her aunt, Emily Kate Arnold, in Winchester and working as a Laundress.

In 1911 Herbert  was serving with the 2^nd Dorset Regiment as a Private. The census was submitted whilst he was serving in Ceylon and India.

War Service

Service Records

Herbert enlisted into the Dorsetshire Regiment  on 27^th December 1906 aged 18 years . On the 3^rd May 1913, he requested his length of service be extended to complete 12 years with the colours.

On 14^th December 1914, he embarked for Bombay landing at Mesopotamia on 26^th December 1914.

He was admitted to hospital on 12^th October 1915 with Malaria and discharged on 20^th October 1915.

He was wounded in action on 12^th December 1915 and a telegram was sent to advice his family. On the 14^th May 1916 he “died of disease”.

His civilian occupation prior to enlisting was sawyer. He had his mother as next of kin.

The  Army wrote to her on 11^th September 1919 enquiring if she had received the balance of her son’s estate, to which she confirmed she had. She received his 1914 – 1915 Star in 1920 and the Victory and British Service medals in 19121.

Herbert is Remembered with Honour on the Amara Memorial, Iraq. The Memorial reads:

Amara War Memorial

“Martin, Drmr. Herbert Henry, 8140. 2^nd Bn. Dorsetshire Regt. Died of wounds 14^th May, 1916. Age 26.
Son of Emily Jane Martin, of 13, Union Rd., Northam, Southampton, and the late John Martin. Native of
Otterbourne, Winchester. Reference VIII. H. 3.”