ORIEL ALFRED AUGUSTUS MARTIN

Oriel is remembered on the war memorial at Holy Trinity Church, Ipswich.

Born: 1899, Higham, Kent.

Baptised: 22nd July 1899, at St. John the Baptist Church, Wateringbury, Kent.

Died: 9th April 1942; age 42; died whilst a Japanese POW at Changi POW Camp.

Residence: 16, Badshah Avenue, Ipswich.

Occupation: Regular Army.

Enlistment details: Location: Kingston upon Thames, Surrey; date: 13th February 1918; age: 18 years & 3 months old; occupation: Machine Boy; address: 23, Burnford Road, Dartford, Kent. Height: 5ft 7 1/4ins, pale complexion, green eyes, and brown hair.

On the 10th October 1940, Oriel obtained a Regular Army Emergency Commission to be Lieutenant Quarter Master.

Rank: Lieutenant Quarter Master; Service Number: 157127.

Regiment: Royal Artillery, attached to No. 1 Heavy Anti Aircraft Regiment, Royal Indian Regiment.

The body was originally buried at Changi POW Camp Cemetery. On the 19th April 1946, the body was exhumed, identified and reburied at Kranji War Cemetery.

Grave Reference:

8.C.12.

Kranji War Cemetery,

Kranji,

Singapore.

Relatives Notified & Address: Son of George & Minnie Martin; husband of Ellen Elizabeth Martin, of Ipswich.

CENSUS

1901   1, Kent Cottages, Higham, Kent.

Oriel was a year old and living with his parents & brothers.

George Martin, 31, a General Labourer, born Higham.

Minnie Frances Martin (nee Ager), 27, born Hoo, Kent.

George Charles Henry Martin, 7, born Higham.

Percy William Sidney Martin, 6, born Higham.

Albert Edward Ernest Martin, 3, born Higham.

1911   23, Mount Pleasant Road, Dartford, Kent.

Oriel was 12 years old and living with his parents & siblings.

George, 42, a General Labourer – Paper Mill.

Minnie, 38.

Charles, 18, a General Labourer – Saw Mill.

Percy, 16, a General Labourer – Paper Mill.

Albert, 14, an Office Boy – Iron Foundry.

Doris Constance Mary Martin, 6, born Stone, Kent.

Leonard Robert Edwin Martin, 4, born Dartford.

Vera May Susan Martin, 2, born Dartford.

Irene Myrtle Florence Martin, 4 months, born Dartford.

In 1925, at Ipswich, Oriel married Ellen Elizabeth Madder, a tobacco stripper, born 1902, Ipswich – daughter of Robert William Madder, a general labourer, and Emma Madder (nee Spall), of 12, White Elm Street, Ipswich.

Ellen and Oriel had two children:

Joan Eileen Martin, born December 1925, Ipswich.

Oriel R. Martin, born 1936, Aldersot, Hampshire.

ENGLAND & WALES REGISTER 1939

Oriel’s family lived at 86, Lyttleton Road, Birmingham, Warwickshire.

Ellen Martin, unpaid Domestic Duties.

Joan Martin, at School.

Oriel Martin.

Probate to Ellen Elizabeth Martin – widow.