corporal Leonard Eve Martin

Leonard Eve Martin was born in October 1890 in Woodford Essex to parents James and Elizabeth (nee Druett.) His parents had married in Wimbledon at St. Mary Church on 15th November 1886. (Elizabeth had been born and raised in the Wimbledon area living at 2 Handford Row)

By the time Leonard was born his parents already had two children: Percy born in October 1887 and Wilfred born in April 1889.

In 1891 the family were living at 31 Georges Cottages, Woodford. Leonard’s father James was working as a Porter for the GPO.

The following year the family moved to Mitcham, where James took over the running of a Grocers shop in Church Road. By 1897 another child named Stanley had been born. The 1901 census shows Leonard’s father still working as a grocer and the family living at Chilton Place, Mitcham. They were still at this address in 1908 when another child called Doris was born.

The Census of 1911 show the family living at 2&3 Chilton Place, Merton Abbey, Mitcham. Leonard’s father James aged 49, had now returned to his previous occupation and was listed as a foreman of Porters at the GPO, whilst his mother Elizabeth aged 45, had taken over the running of the Grocers shop. Leonards two eldest brothers, Percy and Wilfred were both working as a Letter Sorter’s for the GPO, whilst Leonard aged 20 was working as a Clerk in a Rubber Company. Stanley was 14 and Doris aged two.

Shortly after the outbreak of war, Leonard enlisted at St. Paul’s churchyard in Middx with the 7th Battalion Norfolk Regiment with the service number 12602. He joined as a private and attained the rank of Corporal. The 7th Battalion was raised in Norwich in August 1914 with final training undertaken near Aldershot.

The unit proceeded to France on 31st May 1915, landing at Boulogne. The Divisional HQ being established at Nieppe. The Battalion were in Action in the Battle of Loos from 30th September 1915, taking over the sector from Gun Trench to Hulluch Quarries. Leonard’s Regiment came under heavy machine-gun fire but managed to gain a foothold in the South-western area of the Quarry. A German counterattack of the 8th of October 1915 disrupted British plans for their own offensive at Loos. Leonard was killed in Action on 13th October 1915 at the Quarries (Hulluch).

He is remembered at Loos Memorial cemetery in Loos-en-Gohelle in France, and his name also appears with four others on the right of the altar at Christ Church, Colliers Wood. A carved oak lectern is inscribed “They shall walk in white for they are worthy”

Leonard’s executive was listed as Miss Margaret Ada Thomas living at 2 Devonshire Road, Colliers Wood. She received the sum of £241 4 Shillings and 3d.

By 1939 Leonard’s parents James and Elizabeth and their two youngest children were living at 12 Ethelbert Road, Wimbledon.