A life’s opportunity denied: the story of James Charles Martin

By Peter Sutton

Oct 9, 2024

A 1915 studio portrait of Private Martin, 1st Reinforcements, 21st Battalion. Source: Australian War Memorial. Photo by Contributed

I first came across the story of Private Jim Martin about a decade ago. My nephew was studying the book Soldier Boy at secondary school.

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I chose to read the sad story.

Many of our friends across the Murray River would know the story. The Tocumwal RSL sub-branch has a memorial to him.

James Charles Martin was born at Tocumwal on January 3, 1901. He joined the AIF aged just 14 years. The recruiting age at that time was 21. Any recruit under the age of 20 required parental consent.

Young Martin was just 14, and his mother had reluctantly signed the papers. He had always had an interest in military matters.

His father had tried to enlist but was rejected. As the only son in the family, Martin had wanted to take his father’s place and represent the family.

Mrs Martin had not wanted to sign, but her son had informed his family that he would run away and enlist elsewhere. If successful and deployed, he would not contact his family.

He was accepted into the army four years under the legal age of 18.

The story is a sorrowful and tragic one, as Martin served and survived the battlefield. He also survived the torpedoing and sinking of his transport ship.

He commenced training at Broadmeadows and was shipped overseas with the 21st Infantry Battalion on the troop ship HMAT Berrima.

One day, the Berrima was torpedoed and sunk by a German submarine. Martin and others spent a number of hours in the water until later rescued.

Martin was one of the Australians who served at Gallipoli. He was at Wire Gully. Casualties here from enemy engagement were light, but the soldiers were impacted by various things. These included illness, short rations, flies, lice and mosquitoes. These other natural combatants took a toll on the men.

Martin had written to his family about the conditions here.

In October Martin became ill, contracting typhoid. He was evacuated to a hospital ship, where he died several hours later of heart failure. He was not yet 15.

I find his story especially poignant and moving. He had served his country, survived a sinking and hours in the water. He survived combat at Gallipoli only to succumb to illness.

Martin was buried at sea and is commemorated on the Lone Pine Memorial at Gallipoli.

The words of the Anzac Requiem written by C.E.W. Bean come to mind.

“They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old; age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.”

James Charles Martin was 14, denied the opportunities of life, not yet an adult.