Lt. Frederick William Scott Martin M.M.
1896 - 1917
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Fred, his parents and sisters, 1915. Anne McCosker's
mother, Marjorie, is at foot of photo,
left of centre
Fred Martin was Anne McCosker's uncle - her mother's brother. In August 1914, at age 17, he volunteered for service in the Pacific. The regiment of citizen forces to which he belonged was sent to Thursday Island. Volunteers were called for to proceed to New Guinea. Fred was one of 500 who left on the troop ship Kanowna. He was to have been part of the expeditionary force. However, about half way to New Britain and after being joined by the battle cruiser Australia, the firemen on board the Kanowna struck work. The whole fleet was delayed for several hours but as the dispute was not settled, the Kanowna returned to Queensland. Later in 1915 Fred served with the 9th infantry division at Gallipoli. Infections picked up at Gallipoli saw him hospitalized for some months in 1916 at the ANZAC camp in Weymouth on the south coast of England. From mid-1916 Fred saw action on the western front. He was awarded the Military Medal early in 1917, the citation reading in part,
Near Le Barque France, on the 24/26th Feb. 1917 L/cpl Martin showed marked devotion to duty during the whole of the operation. His bravery and initiative both on patrol and consolidating positions while under heavy artillary and M.G. fire were most praiseworthy....
Soon afterwards he was made Lieutenant. Fighting with the 10th division, he was killed at Polygon Wood in September 1917, no remains being found.
