James (Jim) Martin

Jim Martin is one of the youngest Australians to have served in the Great War. He was born in Tocumwal, New South Wales, in January 1901. His father had sought to enlist with the AIF but was rejected; this is believed to have driven Jim’s determination to serve, the farm labourer being the only boy in the family.

Jim was just 14 years and three months when he enlisted in April 1915. He forced the hand of his reluctant mother to write a letter of consent, stating that he was the minimum 18 years of age (those under 21 required parental consent). The alternative, Jim threatened, was that he would volunteer under false name and not stay in touch. Private Jim Martin joined the reinforcements for 21st Battalion, and after training at Broadmeadows, Melbourne, left for Egypt aboard HMAT Berrima on 28 June 1915.

In early September, her survived the torpedoing of his troopship, HMT Southland, as it sailed from Egypt to Gallipoli, spending several hours in the water before finally landing at Gallipoli on 7 September. The young digger was in the trenches for less than two months before he contracted typhoid, which swept through the troops at Gallipoli. He was evacuated to the hospital ship Glenart Castle on 25 October and died a few short hours later. Jim was buried at sea and is commemorated at the Lone Pine Memorial.