Rfn
Tom Martin
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 03/07/1875 |
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Place of birth: Shellharbour, NSW, Australia |
General information
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Last known residence: Kihikihi, Hamilton, New Zealand |
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Profession: Farmer |
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Religion: Church of England |
Army information
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Country: New Zealand |
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Force: New Zealand Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Rifleman |
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Service number: 42160 |
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Enlistment date: 10/11/1916 |
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Enlistment place: Hamilton, Waikato, New Zealand |
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Units: — New Zealand Rifle Brigade, 3rd Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 28/12/1917 |
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Place of death: Cameron Covert, Zonnebeke, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 42 |
Cemetery
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Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood Plot: I Row: B Grave: 16 |
Distinctions and medals 2
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 4
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Last known residence | ||
| #3 | Enlistment place | ||
| #4 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Rifleman Tom Martin was already 41 years old when he enlisted the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. He was born in Australia but worked already 16 years in New Zealand as farmer before going overseas with the 3rd Battalion of the 3rd Rifle Brigade on 26th April 1917.
At the beginning of December 1917, the Divisional front was extended a further 500 yards east of Molenaarelst. One Brigade held the short southern flank in Cameron Covert between the Reutelbeek and the Polygonebeek with one Battalion, and three in reserve, and the other forward Brigade, the northern sub-sectors of Reutel, Judge and Noordemhoek with three battalions in the line.
Up to the end of 1917, the Allied posture had been on the basis of an early resumption of the offensive. However, it soon became apparent that the Russian collapse (the Revolution had by now taken place) would be followed by a German drive on the Western Front in the Spring.
This fact, together with the desirability of waiting for the American forces indicated a need to strengthen defences instead.
This, accordingly, became the priority on the New Zealand Division’s front, as elsewhere, and a great deal of effort was made to this end in difficult winter conditions.
The position in the Cameron Covert sub-sector consisted of a number of isolated posts facing south-east, with a partially-constructed support line running behind the wood. A number of old German concrete “pill-boxes” were converted to the use as living-quarters.
The posts overlooked the sodden valley of the Reutelbeek, and were under observation by the Germans from his position at Polderhoek Chateau, which was only 600 yards distant, and from which concealed snipers and machine-guns were unpleasantly active.
Minor raids and skirmishes by both sides continued, and from time to time, artillery fire intensified. There was a great deal of shelling on cross-roads, and other centres of activity, and casualties were occasioned in rear areas.
Rifleman Tom Martin, 42 years of age, became one of these casualties on 28th December 1917 and got buried near the Butte of Polygon Wood. Now his grave can be found in Buttes New British Cemetery, plot I, row B, grave 16.
At the beginning of December 1917, the Divisional front was extended a further 500 yards east of Molenaarelst. One Brigade held the short southern flank in Cameron Covert between the Reutelbeek and the Polygonebeek with one Battalion, and three in reserve, and the other forward Brigade, the northern sub-sectors of Reutel, Judge and Noordemhoek with three battalions in the line.
Up to the end of 1917, the Allied posture had been on the basis of an early resumption of the offensive. However, it soon became apparent that the Russian collapse (the Revolution had by now taken place) would be followed by a German drive on the Western Front in the Spring.
This fact, together with the desirability of waiting for the American forces indicated a need to strengthen defences instead.
This, accordingly, became the priority on the New Zealand Division’s front, as elsewhere, and a great deal of effort was made to this end in difficult winter conditions.
The position in the Cameron Covert sub-sector consisted of a number of isolated posts facing south-east, with a partially-constructed support line running behind the wood. A number of old German concrete “pill-boxes” were converted to the use as living-quarters.
The posts overlooked the sodden valley of the Reutelbeek, and were under observation by the Germans from his position at Polderhoek Chateau, which was only 600 yards distant, and from which concealed snipers and machine-guns were unpleasantly active.
Minor raids and skirmishes by both sides continued, and from time to time, artillery fire intensified. There was a great deal of shelling on cross-roads, and other centres of activity, and casualties were occasioned in rear areas.
Rifleman Tom Martin, 42 years of age, became one of these casualties on 28th December 1917 and got buried near the Butte of Polygon Wood. Now his grave can be found in Buttes New British Cemetery, plot I, row B, grave 16.
Sources 2
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Austin W.S., The Official History of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade, (Uckfield, The Naval and Military Press Ltd, 2007), page 257-258. Sources used |
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Gray J.H., From the Uttermost Ends of the Earth, the New Zealand Division on the Western Front 1916-1918, (Christchurch, Willsonscott Publishing, 2010), page 175-177. Sources used |
More information 5
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/480362 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=832bcb87-9876-44ff-9fa9-eab1d2d2ad47 |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/7179617 |
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Online Cenotaph (Auckland Museum) https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/record/c10450 |
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The NZEF Project (UNSW Canberra) https://nzef.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=159200 |