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25002 2^nd Corporal
GUY STANISLAUS MARTIN, M.M.
Royal Engineers 

By 

Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Edward De Santis, MSCE, BSAE, P.E., MinstRE
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
(November 2025) 

Figure 1. 25002 2^nd Corporal Guy Stanislaus Martin, M.M., R.E.
(Image courtesy of the Imperial War Museum) 

1. INTRODUCTION  

The Martin family, like so many other families in the U.K. during the Great War of 1914-1918, provided more than one son to fight for King and Country.  In addition to Guy, two of his brothers served as well, one in the London Regiment and one in the Royal Fusiliers.  Both saw active service in France, but unlike their brother Guy, both survived the war.[1] 

2. EARLY LIFE AND FAMILY INFORMATION 

            Guy Stanislaus Martin was born in the Straits Settlement of Singapore on 28 June 1895.  He was the second son of William Martin (1851-1937) and Sarah Elizabeth Martin, née Abbott (1867-1934).  William Martin was a Gaoler in Singapore,[2] probably at the penal facility in Singapore at Pearl's Hill, beside the barracks of Sepoy Lines.  This was known as the Singapore Prison and it was the only penal facility in Singapore before Changi Prison was built. 

            At the time of Guy’s birth the Martins already had another son, Maximillian Victor (1893-?), who had been born in Singapore on 12 March 1893.  Their third child, Reginald Vivian (1898-1998) was born in Higham Ferrers, Northamptonshire.[3] 

            Sometime between 1895 and 1901, Mrs. Martin and her sons Maximillian and Guy left Singapore and returned to England where they took up residence in the Town Yard of Higham Ferrers as shown in the census table below. 

1901 Census of England 

            As William Martin does not appear in the 1901 census, it is possible that he might still have been in Singapore at the time. 

Figure 2.  The Old Singapore (Outram) Prison.
(Image courtesy of Wikipedia) 

            By 1911 the family was living in Bedfordshire.  William Martin had retired and had rejoined his wife and two sons.  Maximillian was off by himself by this time. 

1911 Census of England and Wales 

Figure 3.  4 Preston Road, Bedford.
(Image courtesy of Google Earth) 

In 1908 Guy entered Bedford Modern School (BMS) in Bedford.  It is likely that his brother Reginald probably entered the school as well in about 1911.  Both would have been in the junior school (ages 6-11).  Their brother Maximillian may have already been a student in the senior school (ages 11-18) when Guy entered.  Bedford Modern School provided education not only for the locality but also for colonial and military personnel seeking good education for their young families.  The school  had a Combined Cadet Force (Officer Training Corps) that was established in 1900 and comprised three sections: the Royal Navy, Army and the Royal Air Force.  Given the world political situation at the time and the fact that all three brothers enlisted in the Army shortly after the war began, is an indication that they may have participated in the OTC program at the school, although none were commissioned.  In Figure 5 below, all three of the brothers may have been in the ranks being inspected by Field Marshal Earl Roberts, VC in 1914. 

Figure 4.  Bedford Modern School in Bedford.
(Image courtesy of Wikipedia) 

Figure 5.  Inspection of the BMS Corps by Field Marshal Earl Roberts, VC, 1914.
(Image courtesy of Wikipedia) 

3.  ENLISTMENT AND TRAINING 

Enlistment

            Guy Martin enlisted in the Royal Engineers, probably on his 18th birthday, in March 1911.  He was assigned the Regular Army regimental number 25002 and was posted to the School of Military Engineering (SME) at Brompton Barracks in Chatham, Kent for his recruit training.

Training

            With the exception of Drivers, every recruit enlisted for the Royal Engineers had to have a trade.  Pioneers and Sappers were sent to Chatham where they were trained in infantry drill and pioneer duties.  The engineer recruits also received musketry training.  When the course of training was completed the recruits had to pass an examination and were then transferred to engineer formations, where they received higher pay and could earn extra allowances by working at their special trades.  Martin appears to have been trained as a Signaler.  Upon completion of his training, Sapper Martin was posted to the 5^th Divisional Signal Company, Royal Engineers.        

3.      POSTINGS, ASSIGNMENTS AND CAMPAIGN SERVICE

France and Belgium (1914-1918) 

            On 4 August 1914, the day Great Britain declared war on Germany, units of the 5^th Infantry Division were in the Curragh and Dublin.[4]  Martin may have already been serving with the 5^th Divisional Signal Company on this date.[5]  Assuming that he was with the company when the division deployed to France from Dublin and Belfast, then he would have landed at Le Havre on or about 16 August 1914. The division was under command of II Corps and as such was part of the original British Expeditionary Force. 

In addition to the Signal Company, the 17^th and 59^th Field Companies of the Royal Engineers also were in the 5^th Division under Lieutenant Colonel J.A. Tulloch, R.E. who was the Commander Royal Engineers (C.R.E.).  During the war there were a number of changes in the position of C.R.E.  These changes included:[6] 

1915/1916: Lieutenant Colonel C.E.G. Vesey, R.E.

1916/1917: Lieutenant Colonel J.R. White, R.E.

1918: Colonel E.E. Homer, R.E. 

Shortly safter landing in France the division began a series of movements eastward, taking it to Dour, Belgium by 22 August.  Immediately the division became involved in the Retreat from Mons which began on 23 August and lasted until 5 September.  The 5^th Division would from this point on was involved in many of the most significant battles of the war, as shown below.  Fatal casualties suffered by Martin’s company up to the date of his death also are included below.[7] 

The Battle of Mons (23 August 1914) 

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Mons) 

Retreat from Mons (24-25 August 1914) 

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Retreat) 

The Battle of Le Cateau (26 August 1914) and the Retreat from Le Cateau to the Tournan Area (27 August – 3 September 1914).  

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Le_Cateau)  

The Battle of the Marne (7-10 September 1914). 

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Battle_of_the_Marne) 

The Battle of the Aisne (12-15 September 1914). 

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Battle_of_the_Aisne) 

The Battle of La Bassee (10 October – 2 November 1914). 

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_La_Bass%C3%A9e) 

The division was at Messines and Ypres during the period 1-29 November.[8] 

Winter (1914/1915) 

The division was on the Wulverghem Front between 30 November 1914 and March 1915.[9] 

Company losses 

┼  30300 Corporal W.H. Church (5 March 1915). 

The Battle of Hill 60 (17-22 April 1915).  

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capture_of_Hill_60_(Western_Front) 

The Second Battle of Ypres and Hill 60 Operations  (22 April – 25 May 1915). 

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Battle_of_Ypres) 

Company losses 

┼  24731 Sapper H. Foster (2 May 1915).  

The division was on the Ypres Front from May to July 1915.[10] 

The Battle of Delville Wood (15 July – 3 September 1915). 

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Delville_Wood) 

The Battle of Guillemont (3-6 September 1915). 

(https://www.westernfrontassociation.com/world-war-i-articles/guillemont-3-september-1916-tactics-and-insights/) 

The division was on the Bray Front between August 1915 and February 1916.  It was then moved to the Arras Front in March and remained there until July 1916.  On 19 July the division was sent into line for the Battle of the Somme.

On 27 July 1916 the division’s 15^th Brigade captured Longueval and on 30 July the 13^th Brigade attacked north of Longueval. The 5^th Division was taken out of line for a rest in the Belloy-St. Leonard area between 2 and 23 August.  It was then sent into line at the Maltz Horn Ridge on 26 August and attacked Falfemont Farm on 3 September.  On 5 September the division captured Falfemont Farm and Leuze Wood.[11] 

The Battle of Flers-Courcelette (15-22 September 1916). 

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Flers%E2%80%93Courcelette) 

The Battle of Morval (26-28 September 1916). 

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Morval) 

Sapper Martin was awarded the Military Medal on 9 December 1916.[12] 

The 5^th Division spent the period from October 1916 to March 1917 on the Béthune Front.[13] 

The Battle of Vimy Ridge (9-14 April 1917). 

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Vimy_Ridge) 

On 23 April the division took part in operations near La Coulotte.[14]   

The Battle of the Scarpe (3-4 May 1917). 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Arras_(1917) 

The division went into line along the Oppy-Fresnoy Front on 3 May and took part in operations at Fresnoy on 8 May.[15] 

Company losses 

┼  37843 Corporal Leonard Norman Crocker (31 May 1917). 

The division captured the German front line at Oppy Wood on 28 June 1917 and went into a rest area at Le Cauroy and Eperleques from 7 to 25 September.[16] 

The Battle of Polygon Wood (26 September – 3 October 1917). 

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Polygon_Wood) 

The 5^th Division went into line on the Ypres Front on 1 October and advanced along the Reutelbeek stream on 4 October.  It then took part in the first attack on Polderhoek on 9 October.[17]   

The Battle of Passchendaele (26 October – 10 November 1917). 

During this battle the division was engaged in the second attack on Polderhoek on 26 October and then the third attack on Polderhoek on 6 November.  Following these actions the division went into rest areas at Westoutre and Nielles from 11-24 November.[18] 

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Passchendaele) 

From 11-24 November the division was in a rest area in the vicinity of Westoutre and Nielles and during the period from 27 November to 12 December it entrained for Italy.  During December 1917 and January 1918 the 5^th Division was in an area north of Padua, Italy.  

From January to 18 March 1918 the division was in line on the Rivera Piave and then from 19-26 March it was in a rest area east of Vicenza.  From 1-5 April 1918 the division entrained to return to France.[19] 

Company losses 

┼  487991 Sapper Frederick William Brookes, M.M. (25 March 1918).

┼  210960 Sapper Samuel Twemlow (25 March 1918). 

From 8-10 April the 5^th Division was in the Lucheux area and on 12 April it took up a position in the line east of Forét de Nieppe.[20]   

The Battle of Hazebrouck (12-15 April 1918). 

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Lys_(1918)#Battle_of_Hazebrouck_(12%E2%80%9315_April) 

Company losses 

┼  32716 Pioneer George Henry Prager (19 May 1918).

┼  321663 Sapper Horace George Stanley Cheer (27 June 1918).

┼  452334 Sapper William Wyndham Thomas (27 June 1918).

┼  237184 Sapper William Pevie Weir (28 June 1918).

┼  251732 Sapper A. Murray (7 July 1918).

┼  251740 Sapper Frederick Richard Freeman, M.M. (5 August 1918). 

During the period when this large number of casualties was sustained by the 5^th Divisional Signal Company, casualties were severe throughout the 5^th Division.  The division and brigade headquarters, where many of the men of the Signal Company would have been stationed, came under heavy attack during the battles in the Forêt de Nieppe.[21]   

The Battle of Albert (21-23 August 1918). 

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Albert_(1918) 

Martin, then a 2^nd Corporal, was either killed in action on 25 August 1918 in preparation for the Battle of Bapaume or died of wounds received in the previous Battle of Albert.[22]  He is remembered with Honour at the Achiet-Le-Grand Communal Cemetery Extension in Northern France and in the family cemetery plot, as shown on the grave marker in Figure 6 below.

Figure 6.  The Martin Family Cemetery Plot.
(Image courtesy of Ancestry.com) 

4.      MEDALS, AWARDS AND DECORATIONS

As previously mentioned, Martin received the Military Medal for gallantry in action.  His Medal Index Card could not be located, but based on the date that he deployed to France, he would have been entitled to the 1914 Star trio as shown in Figure 7 below.

Figure 7.  The Military Medal, 1914 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
(Image from the author’s collection) 

NOTE: The medals shown above are not those of 2^nd Corporal Martin.  They are presented here for illustrative purposes only. 

Figure 8.  Martin’s Index Card for the Award of the Military Medal.
(Image courtesy of Ancestry.com) 

5.  BROTHERS IN FRANCE 

            Maximillian Victor Martin served as a Private in the 1/13^th (County of London) Battalion of the London Regiment.  His regimental numbers were 6551 and 493350.  He was wounded in action and was awarded the Silver War Badge, No. 5048.  He also received the British War Medal and Victory Medal for his service. 

Figure 9.  The Medal Index Card of Private M.V. Martin, London Regiment.
(Image courtesy of Ancestry.com) 

            Reginald Victor Martin served as a Private with the 17^th (Service) Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers, regimental number 69696.  He was transferred to the Labour Corps, regimental number 577525, and later to the 44^th (Garrison) Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers, regimental number GS/110520.  He too, received the British War Medal and Victory Medal.[23] 

Figure 10.  The Medal Index Card of Private R.V. Martin, Royal Fusiliers.
(Image courtesy of Ancestry.com)

REFERENCES 

Books 

HUSSEY, A.H. and INMAN, D.S.  The Fifth Division in the Great War.  Nisbet & Co., Ltd., London, 1921. 

Census 

1. 1901 Census of England.

2. 1911 Census of England.  

Family Tree 

1. Ancestry.com: Guy Stanislaus Martin.

2. Ancestry.com: William Martin (father).

3. Ancestry.com: Maximillian Victor Martin (brother).

4. Ancestry.com: Reginald Vivian Martin (brother).  

Internet Web Sites 

1. Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

www.cwgc.org

2.  Wikipedia: Bedford Modern School.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bedford_Modern_School

3.      Wikipedia: Battle web sites (included in the narrative above).

London Gazette 

Supplement to the London Gazette, 9 December 1916. 

Military Documents 

1. Military Medal Index Card (Guy Stanislaus Martin).

2. Medal Index Card (Maximillian Victor Martin).

3. Medal Index Card (Reginald Vivian Martin).

4. British War Medal and Victory Medal Roll, 13^th London Regiment (Maximillian Victor Martin).

5. British War Medal and Victory Medal Roll, Royal Fusiliers and Labour Corps (Reginald Vivian Martin).  

Periodicals 

Battle Honours of the Royal Engineers.  The Royal Engineers Journal.  The Institution of Royal Engineers, Chatham, Kent, 1925-1932.

ENDNOTES