Lance Corporal William Martin
Service Number 13965
Campaign:
World War 1
Died:
13.3.1917
1SG
Aged 34
Buried at Grovetown Cemetery, Meaulte, France. IV, C, 12
William Martin was born on the 8th of September 1891 at ‘Pillans Land’, Newmains. His father was a coal miner. He had one younger sister. William was educated in Newmains. Sadly, his mother died in 1907 at the age of 54 years. On leaving school William worked at a labourer at the Steel Works in Motherwell.
At the age of 21, in 1912, William joined Lanarkshire Constabulary, stationed at High Road in Motherwell. He lived at home with his father who by this time resided at Thistle Lea in Morningside, near Newmains.
On the 24thof May 1915, William joined the 1st Battalion, Scots Guards at Hamilton, along with five of his colleagues. He was allocated the Service No 13965. He served on Home duties and was promoted Lance Corporal on the 10thof February 1916 and qualified as a Bombing Instructor. On the 13thof January 1917, the Battalion was sent to France.
The Battalion saw action on the Somme and on the 13th of March 1917, during one of the engagements with the enemy, William suffered serious gunshot wounds to his abdomen. He was removed to No 34 Casualty Clearing Station at Daours. Despite all efforts to treat his wounds, William died later that day. He was 25 years of age.
William is buried at Grovetown Military Cemetery near Meaulte. He is remembered at the Lanarkshire Constabulary War Memorial, The Newmains War Memorial (which was located opposite the Lanarkshire Constabulary Police office in Newmains) and The Scottish National War Memorial in Edinburgh
Memorial(s):
| Country | Location | Name of Memorial | Campaign | Names | Date(s) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scotland | Police Station Newmains Motherwell Strathclyde Scotland | Newmains War Memorial | World War 1 |
William Martin | 13-3-1917 | View |
| Scotland | Quadrangle of the Police buildings Police Station Beckford Street Hamilton Hamilton Strathclyde ML3 0AA | Lanarkshire Constabulary War Memorial | World War 1 |
William Martin | 13-3-1917 | View |
Further information:
Find more information about a specific soldier visit findmypast. The Scots Guards are delighted that their Enlistment Books from 1840 to 1938 are now available at:
If you have information on a specific memorial please send it on to the Historical Committee. The Memorial information required is:
- Who or what formation of the Regiment is named on the memorial. What event, dates or other inscriptions on the memorial.
- The country, nearest town/city or other details of location.
- A description of the memorial with a photograph if possible.
- For bigger sites a copy of any advertising information or leaflets would be useful.
Please sent any information that you find to: Michael Campbell-Lamerton
As the information on the database builds up Michael Campbell-Lamerton will be sending regular updates to Archives at RHQ who remains the point of contact about for inquiries on past members of the Regiment.
