Pte 265827 Luke Martin

• Age: 25
• From: Southport, Lancs
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Monday 29th April 1918
• Commemorated at: Tyne Cot Memorial
  Panel Ref: Panel 31-34

Luke Martin was born in the March quarter of 1893 in Southport, the son of Peter Martin and his wife Mary Ann (nee Keen) who married on the 17th Nov 1890 at St Paul's, Southport. Peter was a 21 years old carter of 37 Chestnut St, Mary Ann was 22 years old of 13 Chestnut St. 

The 1901 Census shows the family living at 26, Thornton Road, Southport. His father, Peter, is aged 31, born in Bootle in 1870 is a general labourer, his mother, Mary Ann, is aged 33 and was born in 1868 in Southport, she has no occupation listed. They have five children living with them at the time of the Census, John aged 10 born 1891, Luke aged 8, born 1893, Frederick aged 5, born 1896, Alice aged 2, born 1899 and Harold born 1901. Their children were all born in Southport.     

The 1911 Census shows the family now living at 134 Newton St, Southport Lancashire. His father, Peter, aged 41 is still employed as a general labourer and his mother, Mary Ann, is aged 43 and has no occupation listed. They have been married for nineteen years and have had ten children of which three had died. They have six of their children living with them at the time of the Census, John James aged 19 is a railway porter,, Luke aged 18 and Frederick aged 15 are both employed as errand boys, Alice is aged 12, George aged 6 and Ada aged 4.   

He enlisted in October, 1914 joining the 1/7th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment and following a transfer was serving in the 18^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 265827 when he was killed in action on the 29^th April 1918, aged 25, during the German Spring Offensive.

On the day of his death 29th April 1918, the Battalion was serving on the Ypres Salient and was in the front line at Elzenwalle, near Ridge Wood, awaiting a renewal of the German assault on that front.

At 02.30 am the attack began with a devastating bombardment along the whole battle front, from the forward positions back to a depth of over a mile. At 6am the enemy Infantry attacked, the main force of the assault being directed at a position near Ridge Wood, where one of the Battalion’s forward listening posts was captured and held. Then, 16999 Company Sergeant Major G Sutton of No.1 Company gallantly drove out the attackers with Mills Bombs, an action for which he was later awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. After a strong defence along the Battalion frontage, the Germans withdrew. They continued their artillery barrage throughout the rest of the morning and afternoon, however, and at about 17.00 began to mass once more for another Infantry attack. This was contained by Rifle and Lewis Gun fire, until a large British Artillery barrage at 18.00 finally broke up all enemy activity.

Luke has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium.

Those United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after August 16th 1917 are named on the Tyne Cot Memorial, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war.

The Tyne Cot Memorial now bears the names of almost 35,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Herbert Baker with sculpture by Joseph Armitage and F.V. Blundstone, was unveiled by Sir Gilbert Dyett on 20 June 1927.

The memorial forms the north-eastern boundary of Tyne Cot Cemetery, which was established around a captured German blockhouse or pill-box used as an advanced dressing station.

His death was reported in the Southport Visiter dated 18th May 1918:

Private Martin was the second son of Mr & Mrs Martin, Newton Street, and joined the army in October 1914. He was drafted to France the following July, and had been in hospital twice. His older brother, Driver J J Martin, R.F.A., and his younger brother, Driver William Martin,R.E., were both serving in France at the time of his death.Luke is also commemorated on the Southport War Memorial, Lord Street. 

Luke is also commemorated on the Southport War Memorial, Lord Street. 

His father, Peter, dob 22nd Mar 1870, is found on the 1939 Register at 139 Milton Street, Southport, he is married but Mary Ann is not present. His wife Mary died in the December quarter of 1944, aged 63, and Peter died in the September quarter of 1951, aged 81.

We currently have no further information on Luke Martin, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.