Martin, Richard Henry
Sergeant
No. 9056, 2nd Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles
Killed in action on 26 October 1914 (aged 21)
No known grave
Commemorated:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Le Touret Memorial, France (Panel 42 and 43)
Newtownards and District War Memorial
A Great Sacrifice – Cork Servicemen Who Died In The Great War
BIOGRAPHY
Richard Henry Martin was born on 5 October 1892 in the New Barracks, Fermoy, Co Cork and he was the elder son of Colour Sergeant Richard Martin (who was born in County Antrim) and Alice Martin (nee Brown, who was born in Gibraltar).
Richard Martin Senior was a career soldier and he and Alice had at least two children:
Richard Henry (born 5 October 1892 in the New Barracks, Fermoy, Co Cork)
William (born 6 April 1894 at 107 Canal Street, Newry, Co Armagh)
When Colour Sergeant Richard Martin was attached to the Permanent Staff of the Royal North Downs in Newtownards the family lived in Mary Street, Newtownards.
Both Richard Henry and William Martin followed in their father’s footsteps and joined the Army.
Richard Henry Martin served with the 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Rifles and rose to the non-commissioned rank of Sergeant.
Shortly after the outbreak of the Great War he went from Tidworth Camp in Wiltshire to the Western Front and he was killed by an enemy bullet at Neuve Chapelle on 26 October 1914.
At that time his widowed mother was living in Dublin.
His last letter to her was dated 20 October 1914 and she received it on 26 October 1914 – the day that her son was killed.
However, it wasn’t until 24 January 1915 that she received official notification from the War Office that her son must be presumed to have been killed in action.
Sergeant Richard Henry Martin (No. 9056) was 21 when he died, and he has no known grave. He is commemorated on the Le Touret Memorial in France; on Newtownards and District War Memorial and in the County Cork Book of Honour: A Great Sacrifice – Cork Servicemen Who Died In The Great War.
Sergeant Richard Henry Martin’s brother, Lance Corporal William Martin, also served with the Royal Irish Rifles and he was wounded and taken prisoner in 1917.