James Martin was the youngest Australian Soldier to die in World War one.

Born 3rd January 1901 and died 25 October 1915.

James was only 14 years and nine months old when he succumbed to typhoid during the Gallipoli Campaign. He was one of 20 Australian Soldiers, under the age of 18 known to have died in World War One.

James Martin was born to Amelia and Charles Martin on 3 January 1901 in Tocumwal, New South Wales. Martin’s family moved to many different suburbs in and around Melbourne,

Before finally settling in Hawthorn, in 1910. He was the third of six children, and the only son.

He attended Manningree Road State School from 1910 to 1915, during which time he also received basic military training as a junior Army cadet.

After the outbreak of World War One, Martin enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force,

On 12 April 1915, against the wishes of his family. His parents finally agreed however when he made it clear that would sign on under a different name, and never write to them if they did not approved. He gave a false date of birth to the recruiting officer, claiming to be 18, when he was actually 14 years and three months. Martin joined the 1^ST Reinforcements of the 21^ST Battalion as a private and trained in Broadmeadows and Seymour camps in Victoria, before boarding HMAT Berrima in June 1915 to deploy to Egypt, in late July.

In late August, he was sent to Gallipoli on the ship HMT Southland, to take part in the fighting against the Turkish Army, which had by that time developed into a stalemate. En route, Southland was torpedoed by a German submarine off the Island of LEMNOS, and Martin was rescued after spending four hours in the water. After been picked up, he rejoined his Battalion

at MUDROS Island, where they were transferred to the transport ship Abassieh on 7^TSeptember,and resume their voyage to Gallipoli.

The following morning just before 2.00am, Martin’s section landed at ANZAC COVE.

As the fighting dragged on , winter approached and the weather on the Gallipoli Peninsula began to take its toll on the Soldiers in the trenches.

Following a period of cold temperatures and heavy rain, Martin contracted enteric fever, in the trenches. After suffering mild symptoms for about a fortnight, and during which he refused treatment, he subsequently evacuated to the hospital ship Glenart Castle on 25^THOctober 1915.

He died of heart failure that night, at the age of 14 and nine month’s, and was buried at sea the next day.

At the time of his death only Martin’s parents and his best friend, Cec Hogan, who was himself only 16, knew Martin’s real age.

Steve Kyritsis

President

Hellenic RSL Melbourne