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Corporal Samuel Martin is commemorated locally on Castledawson War Memorial. |
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Samuel Martin was born on 19th March 1915 in the Magherafelt area. |
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Known family: Samuel Martin, Sarah Martin, Mary Martin (born 17th April 1914), Samuel Martin (born 19th March 1915), Sarah Sadie Martin (born 27th August 1916), Annie Martin, Dorothy Martin, Robert Martin, William Martin. |
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Corporal Samuel Martin served with the 1st Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers in World War Two. The 1st Battalion were based in southern India at the outbreak of World War Two. |
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The Japanese swept through south east Asia in early 1942, capturing Singapore and invading Burma. |
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In March 1942, the battalion were flown to the north of Rangoon in Burma, with the objective of destroying oil wells in the area of Yenangyaung. |
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By 17th April 1942, the battalion had reached the oilfields to find that the Chinese force that had advanced from the north had already demolished the wells. By then however, the entire division was cut off by a ring of Japanese positions. |
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Corporal Samuel Martin died in Burma on 24th April 1942. |
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Samuel Martin was the eldest son of Samuel and Sarah Martin. Samuel Martin and Sarah Winton were married on 30th January 1913 in the district of Magherafelt. |
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Corporal Samuel Martin has no known grave and is commemorated on Face 11 of the Rangoon Memorial in Burma. |
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Samuel Martin is also commemorated on the family headstone in Maghera Church of Ireland churchyard. |
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The CWGC record Corporal Samuel Martin as the son of Samuel and Sarah Martin of Knockloughrim, County Londonderry. |
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Corporal Samuel Martin is listed on page 113 of the Castledawson War Dead Book – ‘They Didn’t Come Home. |
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All images courtesy of Sam Hudson, Desertmartin. Information provided here is courtesy of the excellent research undertaken by Mr Sam Hudson. |
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Samuel left school at 14, when the family lived at Megargy. |
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He worked for Eakins of Magherafelt for 3 years as a farm labourer. |
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Samuel joined the army in 1932, aged 18. |
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Losses were extremely heavy and less than one third of the men of the 1st Battalion returned from the jungle to India. |
