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Remembered Today:

drowned after war over


bobpike

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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

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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

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I note he is on the 1918 Electoral Roll. Does this not suggest he was at home in 1918 when Roll was compiled ?

 

                   777048309_GWFMartinCDDrownedElecRollSaffronW1918.JPG.4d7e5f8beaecbb91b65f194e5fda8675.JPG

 

That is unless the little 'a' means absent ?

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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 ?

 

                   777048309_GWFMartinCDDrownedElecRollSaffronW1918.JPG.4d7e5f8beaecbb91b65f194e5fda8675.JPG

 

That is unless the little 'a' means absent ?

 The lower case a is  for absent.

 

Craig

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Bobpike

 

You obviously have part of the story of how he was drowned. Where did that come from ?

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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

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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.

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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

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