Leo Dorman Martyn

https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=56801286

Private, Australian Infantry, A.I.F. Age: 22. Died at Gallipoli in WWI

INFORMATION FOUND ON THE WEB

Leo Martyn was born in Moruya, a small town in South East Australia. His family moved to Goulburn where he attended the North Goulburn Public School. When he left school he trained in Fitting and Turning, becoming a Coachsmith. He was a founder member of the St. Nicholas, Goulburn, Church Lads’ Brigade Company which was enrolled in 1909. A very keen member, he had attained the rank of Staff Sergeant prior to the outbreak of The Great War. He was 21. When War broke out Leo enlisted and after training Private Martyn, 1381, was shipped out of Sydney in February 1915 on HMAT Seang Bee, a reinforcement for the 2nd Battalion A.I.F. A couple of weeks earlier he had attended a send off at St. Nicholas, Goulburn. Members of the C.L.B. had assembled at the church to bid farewell to their Staff Sergeant. During a short service the rector, Canon Howell, asked God to protect Staff Sergeant Martyn from all perils and dangers. He was presented with a fountain pen and pocket book. Leo feelingly responded. Nearly a thousand men from the 2nd Battalion were landed on the beach at Anzac Cove on the Gallipoli Peninsula on 25th April 1915. They were attacking hills behind the beach which became the scene of furious fighting and the air was filled with leaden hail. While pushing inland, there was a counter attack by the Ottoman Forces and the Battalion was forced back to the beachhead. It was at this point that Private Martyn was reported as missing. Back home in Goulburn there was hope that Leo would return safely. This was not to be. As a clearer picture emerged, it was reported by his comrades that he had been killed. On the day of the landing, about half a mile from the beach, Private Martyn was attacking at the top of a ridge when he was hit by a bullet and fell back over the cliff, breaking his back. It is believed that he died on a hospital ship as it was leaving the Peninsula. His date of death is recorded as 2nd May 1915. He was 22 years of age. His family had to wait another year to have his death confirmed. Leo Martyn was one of twenty former members of the Church Lads’ Brigade in Goulburn to enlist with the Australian Forces. There is a carved altar in the church which is dedicated to the memory of C.L.B members who fought in The Great War and an altar cross in memory of Leo Martyn, killed in Gallipoli.

Extracts from local newspapers

June 15 Private Leo Dorman Martyn, second son of Senior-Constable Martyn, of Goulburn, is amongst those reported as missing at the Dardanelles. His father received a telegram to this effect from the Defence Department on Tuesday afternoon. Private Martyn is 22 years of age, and is a blacksmith by trade. He was formerly employed by Mr. Dan Croak, coachbuilder, of Goulburn. He enlisted in October last from Goulburn, and sailed about four months ago. He was attached to the second battalion, second reinforcements, and he arrived in Egypt on the 28th March, leaving for the Dardanelles on 3rd April. Private Martyn was a prominent member of the St. Nicholas' Church Lads' Brigade, and held the rank of colour sergeant in that body. He was the winner of several medals, and took great interest in drill. He helped materially in drilling the boys. He was a pupil of North Goulburn School, but received part of his education at the Wyalong and South Goulburn Schools. Private Martyn was a good cricketer, he being better known as a wicket-keeper. Reference to the sad news of the young soldier's misfortune was made at a meeting on Tuesday night of the Church Lads' Brigade, and deep sympathy was expressed for the parents. Mr. Martyn has two others soons, one older and one younger than the missing boy.

September 15 It will be remembered that Pte. Leo D. Martyn, second son of Sgt. Martyn, has been missing for some time. A letter from Pte. Clegg has been received in Goulburn in which he states that he saw Pte. Woodworth, who told him that Pte. Martyn was killed at the Dardanelles on the day of the landing. Pte. Woodworth, who enlisted with Pte. Martin, has since been killed, and Pte. Clegg is in hospital. Pte. Martyn was one of the 2nd Reinforcements for the 2nd Battalion, and was 22 years of age. He was a very fine type of young fellow. His parents have received no official information, and it is to be hoped the young man may after all be alive.

• Reference: Ancestry Genealogy - SmartCopy: May 22 2017, 6:43:25 UTC