Friends of the Somme - Mid Ulster Branch  
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Updates for Private Alexander Martin
Date Information
01/05/2020 02174
26/12/2018 Official news has been received that Private Alex Martin, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers (formerly North Irish Horse), was killed in action on 20th November. The deceased was the fifth son of Mr James Martin, Killycolpy, Stewartstown, County Tyrone, and nephew of Mrs Straghan, 14 Cromwell Street, Belfast. Private Martin enlisted with the North Irish Horse on 25th May 1915, was transferred to the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, and went overseas on 9th January 1916. Prior to enlistment he was in the employment of Messrs Renwick, Robinson & Co, Belfast. One of the deceased’s brothers was wounded on 16th August last, which another is at present serving with His Majesty’s Navy. The deceased was Worshipful Master of Magdalene Church Defenders’ Temperance L.O.L. 615, a member of R.B.P. 12, and South Belfast Regiment, U.V.F.
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26/12/2018 From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 5th January 1918: Private Alex Martin
23/04/2017 The Cambria Memorial photo above has been kindly donated by Bob Pike, courtesy of Carrie Pike, via the Great War Forum.
18/03/2017 Alexander Martin was the son of James and Sarah Martin. James Martin married Elizabeth Sarah Ruddell on 29th December 1881 in the district of Cookstown.
18/03/2017 He was also a member of the South Belfast Regiment of the Ulster Volunteer Force.
18/03/2017 Alexander was Worshipful Master of Magdalene Church Defenders’ Temperance L.O.L. No. 615 and a member of R.B.P. No. 12.
18/03/2017 The 1911 census lists Alexander as age 20 living at house 14 in Cromwell Road, Belfast. His uncle had died. Alexander was working as a warehouse assistant.
18/03/2017 The 1901 census lists Alexander as age 13, living with his aunt and uncle at house 21 in India Street, Belfast. Both Alex and George were living with Joseph and Annie Straghan. Joseph Straghan was an Acting Sergeant in the Royal Irish Constabulary.
18/03/2017 It seems his mother died shortly after the birth of Robert, on 29th March 1893 in Stewartstown, age 38. (GRONI ref. D/1893/101/1009/8/218). Alexander would have been just two years old.
18/03/2017 Prior to enlisting, Alexander was working Messrs Renwick, Robinson & Co, Belfast.
18/03/2017 Alexander Martin was born in Stewartstown area on 15th October 1890. He was one of at least six sons.
18/03/2017 One of his brothers was wounded in action on 16th August 1917 at the Third Battle of Ypres, but recovered.
18/03/2017 Private Alex Martin, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, (formerly North Irish Horse), was killed in action on 20th November 1917. The deceased was the fifth son of Mr James Martin, Killycolpy, Stewartstown and a nephew of Mrs Straghan, 14 Cromwell Road, Belfast. Private Martin enlisted on 25th May 1915, prior to which he was in the employment of Messrs Renwick, Robinson & Co, Belfast. He was Worshipful Master of Magdalene Church Defenders’ Temperance L.O.L. 615, a member of R.B.P. 12, and South Belfast Regiment, U.V.F.
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18/03/2017 Known family: James Martin, Sarah Elizabeth Martin, George Martin (born 24th October 1882), Samuel Martin (born 20th October 1884), James Martin (born 8th September 1886), Edward Martin (born 3rd November 1888), Alexander Martin (born 15th October 1890), Robert Martin (born 8th March 1893).
18/03/2017 Alexander originally enlisted in the North Irish Horse on 25th May 1915 in Antrim with the Service No. 1610.
18/03/2017 From the Belfast Newsletter dated 19th December 1917:
18/03/2017 Private Alexander Martin went overseas in a draft to bring the 10th Battalion up to strength on 9th January 1917.
18/03/2017 On 20th November 1917, three hundred and eighty one tanks, followed closely by infantry, attacked along a six mile front and at 6.20am 1,000 guns opened up with an intense bombardment on the German lines. The 10th Inniskillings went into attack at the Battle of Cambrai with 27 officers and 430 other ranks. Their objective was to bombard the German machine gun posts on a slag heap near the Canal-du-Nord. This slag heap was the by product of the Canal that the French had been building before the start of the war. This advance took on a different style to that used at the Somme. The infantry didn’t advance across open country. Instead they fought their way through the German communication trenches rather than straight through the German lines, this effort gave better cover from small arm and artillery fire. No tanks were assigned in the sector held by the 10th Inniskillings and the hurricane bombardment by heavy artillery on the slag heap commenced instantaneously at 8.30am. The Trench Mortar Battery pounded the front German trenches and machine gun posts and after a few minutes, switched back and forth to other targets as the infantry fought their way through. After a short but fierce fight the 10th Inniskillings had seized their objective by 9.30am in the middle of a blizzard, clearing over 1.5 miles of the front line trenches of the Hindenburg Line. The allied artillery started its programme of hitting prearranged targets as the infantry advanced through the German lines. The 10th Inniskilling’s gains were considerable and casualties were light. 1 officer and 45 other ranks were wounded in the advance. Only one man, Private Alexander Martin was killed.
18/03/2017 Private Alexander Martin was serving with the 10th Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers when he was killed in action on Tuesday 20th November 1917.
18/03/2017 Private A Martin has no known grave and is commemorated on the Cambrai Memorial at Louverval in Nord, France.
18/03/2017 Alexander Martin is also commemorated on Albany Presbyterian Roll of Honour.
18/03/2017 Another brother served with the Royal Navy. Both of Alexander’s brothers survived the war.
18/03/2017 The CWGC record Private Alexander Martin as the son of James and Sarah Martin of Killycolpy, Stewartstown, County Tyrone.
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18/03/2017 He later transferred to the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers.
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