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1206155 A/WOII Edgar Martin MM British Army 283 Siege Battery Royal Garrison Artillery from:Ramsbury, Wiltshire Edgar Martin was born in Ramsbury Wiltshire and volunteered to join the Royal Garrison Artillery in 1916. He was married to Bertha (Vockins) and had 5 children at the time. He returned in 1919 but subsequently died in 1924, some say from injuries received during the war. Diary of Edgar Martin for World War 1 1916 May 31st - Joined up June 1st - Arrived at Plymouth at No 3 Depot, Royal Garrison Artillery July 14th - Appointed Acting Bombardier, with pay. Sept 16th – sent to Bexhill for Seige Course. Oct 16th – Passed Course and sent on B.E.F. Nov 11th – Appointed Full Bombardier Nov 13th – Joined Battery at Broughly Ferry (unable to locate) Nov 23rd – Arrived Ewshot (near Aldershot) Dec 16th – moved to Aldershot 1917 Jan 30th – moved to Lydd Feb 20th – moved to Devizes Feb 23rd – Overseas Leave March 25th – Left Devizes for France March 31st – Left Le Havre for Bailleul (Belgium) April 2nd – arrived at Battalion positions at Kemmel Hill (near Ypres) in Belgium April 5th – fired first round April 29th – first casualty April 30th – appointed acting corporal with pay June 7th – premature on No 4 gun – 3 men wounded, also Messines Ridge captured June 10th – pulled out and move to new position at Peckham (Battle of Messines) June 26th – Acting Bmdr Kimber wounded June 30th – Gnrs Tolkey and Harvey wounded July 4th – King George passed Battery positions and camp July 22nd – premature on No 1 gun. Bdr Killed and 4 men wounded July 29th – went to 2nd Army Rest Camp at Abbeville (?) for 14 days Aug 12th – returned to base … - moved to Onreat Wood. (location not found) Sept 4th – hit by shell splinters on shoulder – in the evening Sept 16th – promoted to acting Sgt Sept 19th – premature (explosion) on No 1 gun. 1 killed, 8 wounded of 405 Seige Batt. Sept 21st – went to rest at Veibix berque?? (poss Vieux-Berquin) Sept 24th – returned to Battery positions and went into action – some rest Oct 1st – appointed full Sgt Dec 9th – premature on No 1 gun. 1 man wounded 1918 Jan 13th – 27th – leave in Blighty Feb 15th – pulled out for rest at Arques near Saint Omer. Feb 21st – left Arques for Bty positions at Montes Court(unable to locate) March 13th – Right section pulled out and relieved 306 Siege Bty at forward position in front of Fort Vendeuil March 16th – shelled out of position, returned to Liez March 17th – left section took over position at Liez from 306 Seige Bty March 21st – German Offensive commenced at 04.30 am, retired to reserve position on the evening of the 21st. On the retirement the Battery had 11 guns. Fired 2000 rounds and left behind 1700 rounds partially destroyed. Travelled 300 miles, causalities one man wounded and one missing. Pulled out on Easter Sunday for Beaucamps-le-Jeune to refit. April 10th – went into action April 12th – moved up to Gentles Wood at Boves April 15th – premature on No 2 gun. Sgt Farlow and Gnr Butterfield killed. 5 men wounded. April 15th – Bdr Pilcher wounded April 24th 1918 – Awarded the Military Medal. Authority III Corp Routine Orders No 63. April 30th – Pullout of line for Marcuil near Abberville. May 17th – Left Marciul for Caubirk May 19th – arrived at Bty positions and relieved 216 Siege Bty at Heilly. May 31st - four men wounded at Centre Section, Gnr Round died of wounds. June 16th – Eight men wounded, five men killed at camp and position. July 2nd - pulled out and went to forward position at Merricourt. July 19th – Cpl Green left battery for Commission. July 30th – Cpl Leonard and four men gassed at forward position. August 3rd – Pulled out of forward positions at Merricourt. August 4th – reached Battery positions near front line. August 4th – appointed to Acting Battery Sergeant Major (BSM) on BSM Davies leaving battery. August 8th – Push started. The following moves took place between 8th Aug and 20th Sept. Battery positions as follows: 1. Vaux Sur Somme 2. Sailly Le Sec 3. Sailly Laurette 4. Chiphilly 5. Etinehem 6. Bray Sur Somme 7. Suzanne 8. Hem Monacu 9. Clery sur Somme 10. Mout St Quintin 11. Bussu 12. Doingt 13. Buire 14. Tincourt 15. Marquaix 16. Avallette (not found) 17. Roibel 18. Hargicourt. Sept 20th – Wounded on left forearm, leg and right hand at Hargicourt. Sept 21st - Arrived at No 10 General hospital at Rouen. Sept 26th – draft to No 2 [unreadable] Nov 11th – Armistice Signed. (The battery continue moving forwards until the ceasefire on 11th November 1918.) Dec 2nd – Left Con Camp Rouen for the base at Le Havre. Dec 27th – Fourteen days leave to Blighty. 1919. Feb 27th – Demob at Fovant. (Salisbury, Wiltshire) Please type your message:      We recommend you copy the text about this item and keep a copy on your own computer before pressing submit. Your Name:             Email Address:       @ **Please put first part of your email, (before the @ sign) in the first box, and the second part in the second box. Do not include @, it is automatic. Do not enter your full email in each box or add an @ sign or random spaces.**