| Place | Europe: France, Picardie, Somme, Bapaume Cambrai Area, Bullecourt |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | REL/18437 |
| Collection type | Heraldry |
| Object type | Award |
| Physical description | Silver |
| Maker |
Unknown |
| Place made | United Kingdom |
| Date made | c 1917 |
| Conflict |
First World War, 1914-1918 |
Military Medal : Private H L Martin, 8 Australian Machine Gun Company, AIF
Description
Military Medal (Geo V). Impressed around edge with the recipient's details.
History / Summary
Awarded to Private H L Martin, 8th Machine Gun Company, AIF. Born in Warragul, Victoria in 1887, Henry Leslie Martin was working as a mason when he enlisted in the AIF on 13 April 1916. 289 Private H L Martin embarked aboard HMAT A17 Port Lincoln at Melbourne on 4 May 1916 with the 3rd Reinforcements to the 8th Australian Machine Gun Company.
Martin arrived with his unit in France on 17 March 1917. Two months later he was awarded the Military Medal for his actions during the Second Battle of Bullecourt. The Citation reads, 'At BULLECOURT during the operations from 3rd to 10th May 1917, these men displayed very gallant conduct. They were responsible for line communication between Company Headquarters and Forward Sections, and with Brigade Headquarters. For 40 hours after zero they worked in the open under heavy shell fire, without rest and regardless of personal safety. The line was cut nineteen times on the night of 3rd/4th May, and these men passed through the artillery barrage may times on their repair work, which was so well carried out that this unit was at times the only one in communication with Brigade Headquarters, many messages being sent over our line to forward Battalions in consequence. Their bravery and devotion to duty was of the highest order '. This was a joint recommendation with 72 Corporal Ronald Cheyne and 117a Private Elliott John Hammett, both of 8th Australian Machine Gun Company, AIF.
On 17 April 1918, Martin was gassed near Villers-Bretonneaux and was evacuated to England where he was treated at the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Dartford, Kent. Around this time the 8th Machine Gun Company was re-designated as the 5th Machine Gun Battalion.
Martin never rejoined his unit in France and on 6 March 1919 he married Miss Edith Baldry from Hertfordshire in a ceremony at the Trinity Presbyterian Church at Lambeth, London. Martin returned to Australia aboard HMAT Benalla in November 1919.