Martin, Gordon John

Collection relating to VX64564 Lieutenant (Lt) Gordon John "Bill" Martin, 2/10th Commando Squadron, of Killara, NSW. Commanding B Troop, he and an advance party were ambushed while moving along a track towards a position which the troop would occupy. He was hit by two grenades and killed instantly on 25 June 1945 in Aitape. Collection comprises 2 original letters handwritten by Lt Martin, and typed transcripts of 3 condolence letters written to his father after his death. The first of Lt Martin's letters is 12 A4 pages in length, dated 9 April 1943, and was written to his uncle, Norman Carington Smith. In it he describes his training, posting to the Gulf of Carpentaria, then Timor and his work with locals, observing the Japanese. The second of his letters is 4 A5 pages in length, dated 23 June 1945 and was written to his brother-in-law, NX14008 Staff Sergeant Kenneth Stewart Campbell. Included is a typed transcript of this letter. There are also typed transcripts of 3 letters written to Mr Jim Martin in the months following his son's death. These were written by fellow soldiers who had served with Lt Martin and describe the circumstances surrounding his death; NX12295 Captain (Capt) Douglas Gordon Boyd, NX2073 Capt George 'Angus' Robinson and VX5128 Lt Phillip Thomas Gude.