James Martin

Census Address: 5 East Street
Place of Birth: Stamford
Date of Birth: 1898
Enlistment Address: --
Regiment: --
Service Numbers: --
Place of Death: --
Date Died: --
East Street

William Alphin and James Martin – 5 East Street

William Alphin and James were the eldest of the five sons of James and Esther Martin. James, their father, was born in Rotherham but had grown up living at 7 Hope Terrace. He married Esther Toon of Stamford in 1895. He worked first as an agricultural labourer then by 1901 he was a brewer’s labourer and the family were living in 3 rooms at 9 Hope Terrace. In 1911 he was still working at a brewery as a barrel washer and the family were living at 5 East St which had 4 rooms. By 1916 the family had moved back to a smaller property at 14 Gas St and they then moved again in 1917.

William Alphin born 12th June 1896

In 1911, William was a carpenter’s assistant working for a builder but before the war he had begun to work at Martin’s Cultivator Co. He was 18 years old when he enlisted as a Private in the Lincolnshire Regiment on 21st October 1914. He served abroad and was wounded at the Hohenzollern Redoubt in 13th October 1915. He received three wounds in 1916 and the Mercury reported that he was in Wharncliffe Hospital in Yorkshire. He was discharged on 10th April but had already been promoted to Sergeant and was awarded the British, Victory, 1915 Star and Silver War badges.

William married Mabel Hollingworth at Bourne in 1924 and their first child was registered in Stamford.

James born 1898

James was still at school in 1911 but also working as a Newsboy. He volunteered in March 1915 but was rejected possibly because of his age or for medical reasons. In 1917 he joined the Leics Regiment and served in France.