Pte 59580 James Martland

• Age: 37
• From: Aughton, Lancs
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Tuesday 31st July 1917
• Commemorated at: Menin Gate Memorial
  Panel Ref: Panel 4 & 6

James Martland was born around 1880 in Aughton, Lancashire, the son of James Martland, a farmer, and  his wife Margaret. A baptism record exists for a James Martland, born 05th June 1880, and his mother Margaret, (no father), had a private ceremony for him at Christ Church, Aughton on the 09th June 1880. No marriage record can be found for his parents.

James cannot be identified on the 1891 to 1901 census.  

However, he is found on crew records in 1902, on the ship "Panama" (Pacific Steam Navigation Co. Ltd., Liverpool).

James married Margaret Jane Hull at St. Anne's Church, Aigburth on 07th September 1907, he was a 28 year old ships steward, father James, a farmer. Margaret was 30, father Charles Hayden Hull (deceased). They both gave their address as St Annes's Road, Aigburth. 

Their first child Eleanor Hayden was born on the 19th August 1908 and her birth was registered in Wavertree, Liverpool. A son, Charles Thomas was born on the 22nd April 1910.

The 1911 Census finds the family, minus James who was probably away at sea, living at 20 Plumer Street, Wavertree. His wife, Margaret, is 33 years of age, having been born in Chester. Both children Eleanor aged 2 and newborn Charles are present in the household. 

The 1914 Gores Directory records James as a ships steward living at 27 Olton Street, Wavertree.

A third child Robert James was born on the 27th February 1916. 

James enlisted in Liverpool and was serving in the 18th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 59580 when he was killed in action on the 31st July 1917 during the Third Battle of Ypres. 

18^th Battalion

On this day, before Zero Hour, the 18^th Battalion was part of 21^st Brigade and was to form up for the attack from trenches from the area of Sanctuary Wood to Observatory Ridge but it was dark and continually falling rain gave very poor visibility. The departure of the 21^st Brigade was delayed by heavy shelling.

The 18^th King’s began to move forward in the rear of the 2^nd Battalion of the Wiltshire Regiment who had been detailed as the left attacking battalion of the 21^st Brigade.

No’s 1 and 3 Companies of the King’s led the way followed by No’s 2 and 4. In Sanctuary Wood there was considerable confusion, as a result No.2 and No.4 Companies became separated from the others, and were moved over to the left flank towards positions known as Surbiton Villas and Clapham Junction in the direction of the 90^th Brigade.

No.1 and 3 Companies were soon in action with the enemy, and were for a time, held up against an enemy strong point. They pushed forward with their right on a trench known as Jar Row and their left on the tramway south of Stirling Castle. Advance along Jar Row was held up by the Germans who put up a fierce resistance and the party was forced to withdraw.

Another group of men from No.1 and No.3 Companies led by 2^nd Lieutenant Graham were being held up by another strongpoint which was south of Stirling Castle, which was eventually stormed and taken.  Not far away from this action,  an attempt, by other men of No.1 and No.3 companies, was made to penetrate a broad belt of uncut wire, but this was covered by Machine-guns which killed almost every man attempting to pass through the two gaps that were discovered.

The situation was similar with No.2 and 4 Companies, who had attacked along the wrong axis. Their advance was met with fierce opposition, and once all the experienced officer’s had been killed or wounded, all cohesion was lost, although some men did reach and cross the Menin Road at Clapham Junction.

By that time, the situation had become extremely confused, and the whereabouts of all four companies being unknown to Battalion Headquarters, urgent attempts were made to discover their locations. Eventually by mid- afternoon, it was established that the bulk of the companies, although all mixed together, were dug in the vicinity of Stirling Castle and by mid evening, the Battalion Headquarters moved forward to meet them.

During its time in the line the 18^th Battalion lost 7 officers and 76 men killed or died of wounds and 7 officers and 177 men wounded. They were relieved on the 2^nd August. 

James was one of those killed. His body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial at Ypres in Belgium.

The site of the Menin Gate was chosen because of the hundreds of thousands of men who passed through it on their way to the battlefields. It commemorates casualties from the forces of Australia, Canada, India, South Africa and United Kingdom who died in the Salient. In the case of United Kingdom casualties, only those prior 16 August 1917 (with some exceptions). United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after that date are named on the memorial at Tyne Cot, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war. New Zealand casualties that died prior to 16 August 1917 are commemorated on memorials at Buttes New British Cemetery and Messines Ridge British Cemetery.

The YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL now bears the names of more than 54,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield with sculpture by Sir William Reid-Dick, was unveiled by Lord Plumer on 24 July 1927.

He was originally posted as Missing in the Weekly Casualty List on the 18th September 1917:

MISSING

King's (Liverpool Regiment) - Martland, 59580, J.(Wigan);

and was reported as such in the Wigan Observer on 22nd September 1917.

Soldiers Effects/Pension to widow Margaret J. and children Eleanor Hayden, Charles Thomas and Robert James. 

A memorial service was held for him at Upholland Parish Church on 21 October 1917. A church magazine says his address at the time of his death was Walthew Green, Roby Mill, just outside Upholland.

James is also commemorated on the Upholland War Memorial.

His father James of Grammar School Farm, Upholland died on 01st November 1918. Probate in the sum of £1053 2s was granted at Liverpool on 17th December to Peter Martland a retired farmer. 

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