Current Information:

Born-Marylebone

Bailleul Communal Cemetery, France

On 30th March, 1915, the 4th Middlesex battalion of 8 Brigade, 3rd Division left their billets in Westoutre and moved to trenches at Vierstraat with two companies in the front line and the other two in reserve billets. They remained here until relieved on 5th April. John Martin died from wounds on 7th April and it is probable that he was wounded during the time spent in these trenches but the battalion diary provides no further information concerning his death. The attrition rate among British soldiers on the Western Front was on average 300 each day and 60% of these were as a result of shellfire. When not involved in an actual battle it was either shell fire or a sniper’s bullet that caused most deaths and injuries.