bobpike Posted 11 December , 2018 Share Posted 11 December , 2018 War is full of tragic stories. Here is one albeit a small one. Charles Martin was the son of Thomas and Sarah Martin of 7 Jones Yard, Freshwell Street Saffron Walden. At the end of the war, Charles was attached to 383 Prisoner-of-War Company engaged in clearing the debris of the aftermath of war. About noon on Whit Monday 1919, Charles had gone swimming with a friend, Private Catherall, in a pond, one hundred yards from their camp. Cries of help were suddenly heard from Charles who was attacked by cramp and had got into difficulties. A German prisoner and a strong swimmer, named Bunte, dived in to help, as well as some of the escort, but to no avail, Charles could not be found. Later that evening at 9 p.m. his body was recovered, and Charles was buried two days later in the nearby military cemetery Private Charles Douglas MARTIN (99769) attached 383 Prisoner-of-War Company, 1st. King’s Liverpool Regiment, drowned June 9th. 1919, aged 27. Buried in Meteren Military Cemetery, France, Plot 2 Row H Grave 232. A story which leaves many details missing, can anyone help please fill in more I have struggled to find any such as enlistment details, medals etc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ss002d6252 Posted 11 December , 2018 Share Posted 11 December , 2018 (edited) The soldiers effects register tells us there was war gratuity paid of £14 10s (Type 2). Using my calculator to look at overseas service gives us this option to look at : https://wargratuity.uk/war-gratuity-calculator/ Craig Edited 11 December , 2018 by ss002d6252 Corrected to make sense Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RaySearching Posted 11 December , 2018 Share Posted 11 December , 2018 I cannot see or find any records of medals awarded for this soldier on Ancestry or in the National Archives which suggest that he only served overseas after the armistice and did not enter a theater of war during his service Soldiers effects also list him as accidently drowned at Meteren Ray Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie962 Posted 11 December , 2018 Share Posted 11 December , 2018 I note he is on the 1918 Electoral Roll. Does this not suggest he was at home in 1918 when Roll was compiled ? That is unless the little 'a' means absent ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ss002d6252 Posted 11 December , 2018 Share Posted 11 December , 2018 1 minute ago, charlie962 said: I note he is on the 1918 Electoral Roll. Does this not suggest he was at home in 1918 when Roll was compiled ? That is unless the little 'a' means absent ? The lower case a is for absent. Craig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie962 Posted 11 December , 2018 Share Posted 11 December , 2018 Just now, ss002d6252 said: The lower case a is for absent. good to know. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corisande Posted 11 December , 2018 Share Posted 11 December , 2018 Bobpike You obviously have part of the story of how he was drowned. Where did that come from ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobpike Posted 12 December , 2018 Author Share Posted 12 December , 2018 Thank you all Iinterestingly your results highlight the lack of information before the report of hiS death. This appeared in either the Safrfon Walden Reporter or the Herts and Essex 0bserver' Robert Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marilyne Posted 12 December , 2018 Share Posted 12 December , 2018 Futile death in a freak accident... they tend to happen. I think there's a thread somewhere about soldiers who died of accidents... falling of horses, being struck by cricket balls or... still happening today ... playing with explosive ordnance. In the midst of all the killing they seem so ... how to say?? I don't want to use the word ridiculous, but in a way... and ironic. Like fate having a good laugh. M. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NigelS Posted 12 December , 2018 Share Posted 12 December , 2018 34 minutes ago, Marilyne said: ...I think there's a thread somewhere about soldiers who died of accidents... falling of horses, being struck by cricket balls or... still happening today ... playing with explosive ordnance. Possibly this one https://www.greatwarforum.org/topic/171109-strange-bizzarre-and-unlucky-deaths/?do=findComment&comment=1663482 There have been others on soldiers hit by lightning; can't help wondering if there are any such accidents which are truly unique NigelS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now