Capt Arthur de Bells Adam (MC)
1885 - 1916

CPL David Wallace Crawford
1887 - 1916

Lce-Corpl John Joseph Nickle
1894 - 1916

Pte 17911 Morton Neill
1897 - 1916

Lieut Edward Stanley Ashcroft
1883 - 1918

Pte 300597 Philip Martin

Age: 19
From: Macclesfield, Ches
Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
K.I.A Monday 29th April 1918
Commemorated at: Tyne Cot Memorial
Panel Ref: Panel 31-34

Phillip Martin was born on 20th July 1898 in Macclesfield, the son of Joseph Martin and his wife Ellen (nee Siddons). His father, born in Macclesfield, and his mother, from Cockbrook, Ashton Under Lyne, married in 1893 at St Matthew's Church, Stockport and had four children; Philip being the youngest. His siblings were; Ivy, born in 1893 in Edgeley, near Stockport, Joseph 1894 (died in infancy), and Harry 1897, born in Macclesfield.

At the time of the 1901 census the family is living at 42 Charlotte Street, Macclesfield. They have three children: Ivy 7, Harry 4, and Philip 2. His father, aged 28, is a bricklayer’s labourer; his mother, Nelly aged 25, is a silk winder/weaver.

Silk had been woven in Cheshire from the late 1600s; Macclesfield was a traditional silk-weaving town. Silk weavers often worked at home.

On 12 March 1901 Philip was registered at Lord Street British School, Macclesfield.

They are still at 42 Charlotte Street in 1911. His father is 38, a bricklayer’s labourer, his mother Nellie, 35, is “at home”. Also in the household is his widowed uncle, William Siddons, 37, a bricklayer. Ivy, 17, is a sewing machinist for a shirt manufacturer, Harry, 14, is a cotton weaver. Philip, only 12 years old, is listed as a butcher. In fact he was a butcher’s errand boy, as reported in a local newspaper article later that year:

In December 1911, Philip Martin, an errand boy living at 42 Charlotte Street, was sent by his employer, Charles Astley, of the River Plate Fresh Meat Company, on an errand, accompanied by a puppy belonging to his employer. He was in Higher Hurdsfield, opposite the George and Dragon Inn, when the puppy barked at some sheep tied up to the wall. James Wainwright came out of the inn and threw his stick at the dog, breaking its leg. He was summoned for cruelty, fined 5 shillings and costs, and ordered to pay 10 shillings for damage to the dog.

Keen to do his duty, his father enlisted in the Cheshire Regiment soon after war was declared, on 29th August 1914, giving his address as 16 Henry Street, Macclesfield, and his age as 40 (in fact he was 42). He states he had served 12 years with 4th (Territorial) Bn Cheshire Regiment, time expired. He was discharged on 12/11/1914 as not likely to become an efficient soldier, on medical grounds.

Philip enlisted in Macclesfield in his father’s old regiment, as Private 291999, Cheshire Regiment (per SDGW). The amount of the War Gratuity suggests that he enlisted in early 1915, when he would have been 16 years old, having to lie about his age. No medal roll has been found for this regimental number, indicating that Philip was transferred to the 17th Bn King’s Liverpool Regiment before shipping overseas. It is not known when he was sent overseas; he turned 19 in July 1917.

He was serving in the 17^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 300597 when he was killed in action on the 29^th April 1918 aged 19 during the German Spring Offensive. Details of the action were recorded in the battalion diary:

By the 25^th April the battalion had taken up positions of readiness in the Voormezeele sector. According to the battalion War Diary, on the night of the 27^th, at 8.30 p.m. they moved to the line to relieve 4^th Bn, relief completed about 1 a.m.

28^th – At about 1 p.m. a company of composite battalion gave way on the left of our line and the Bosche penetrated from the Canal Bank to the left of my battalion front, which position he maintained despite 5 hours fighting. My reserve company was ordered to counter-attack and restore the position at 7.45 p.m. but enemy laid down a barrage at 7.43 a.m. and the counter attack was unable to proceed. The enemy bombardment lasted until 10.30 p.m. and I then organised a defensive flank.

29^th – At 3.30 a.m. heavy enemy bombardment opened, followed later (9.00 a.m.) by enemy attack and our line was forced back to G.H.Q.1 where I organised and held on to the position. The enemy got through on both flanks practically surrounding 2 of my companies. ‘A’ company was actually surrounded and after severe fighting were captured.

Philip was initially declared Missing on 29th April 1918. His death was later presumed, for official purposes, as having occurred on that date. He was 19 years old. His body was either not recovered from the battlefield or was subsequently lost as his name is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial in 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 Army effects and a War Gratuity of £17-10 went to his father. The pension cards in the name of his father at 10 Rodney Street, give his battalion as 7th K.L.R. An entry on the card shows “nominee” Miss Phyllis Dixon, 28 Sunderland Street, Macclesfield (not at this address in 1911). Coincidentally, his sister Ivy married a Dixon in 1919.

In 1939 his parents are still at 10 Rodney Street, his father Joseph, 67, a builder’s labourer, retired, and his mother Ellen, 64, a retired silk winder.

His father died in 1943 age 71, and his mother in 1951 age 75.

Philip is commemorated on the following memorials:

Macclesfield Town Hall,

Macclesfield Park Green War Memorial

St John's Church Roll of Honour.

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

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