Lost at Fromelles:

1915c - (Joseph) Leslie Roy Martin [B-T-E] XTMJust like thousands of other Australians I lost a relative at Fromelles a hundred years ago today. Private Joseph Leslie (Roy) Martin Number 1584, 30th battalion AIF, an ex cadet, single labourer from Grenfell NSW, an uncle who would never be – disappeared that day aged just 20 – and has never been found since. He survived a bare month at the Front. One of 5,500 Australian casualties in a single afternoon! Australia’s very worst day. What a tragedy! May we never repeat such awful destruction or ever forget their heroism and sacrifice for us, our values – and our way of life.

PS: You should not think our military simply ‘forgot’ missing soldiers. On the day after Fromelles ‘Roy’ was listed as missing. An inquiry was arranged. Notices obviously went out to anyone who could shed light on his fate. Someone even thought they might have seen this slight 126lb, 5’51/2”good-looking, brown eyed, brown haired youth after the battle; this proved illusory. The other man was almost certainly Roy’s older brother John Francis (Frank) Martin who survived the war (though twice seriously wounded). The Inquiry found on 10th December 1916 that he must have been killed in action at Fromelles. No doubt near ‘Pheasant Wood’ – a pleasant sounding place to die! A medal was sent to his mother. Apparently he was a ‘good rifle shot’ but this availed him little.

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2 thoughts on “Lost at Fromelles:”

  1. Cristina McRitchie

    Can you believe the Army never gave up as they may have found his remains and today sent a DNA test to my 89 year old father to try to match his DNA. My Paternal Grandmother Pearl was Roy’s sister and my dad was named after him.
    Fingers crossed that he can be properly laid to rest.
    How are you related?

    1. Wow! Not a blood relative actually. His brother was my father’s sister’s husband. I have a similar relative lost on the Sandakan March in Borneo. Again not a blood relative. Most of my ancestor’s actually survived the wars often with pretty harrowing tales to tell – not surprising really as otherwise I wouldn’t be here. Still, I have many relatives who will be interested to know whether it is Roy. I think some have already given DNA too. Please update me if you learn anything. I believe I met Pearl. I have a photo of her if you would like a copy. Cheers, Steve. My email address is stevendella@finnsheep.com

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