Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Four: Staff Sergeant-Major J. Martin, Australian Forces, late South Lancashire Regiment

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Tugela Heights, Orange Free State, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal, Laing’s Nek (3503 Serjt., S. Lanc.Regt.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps (3503 Clr.-Serjt., S. Lanc. Regt.); Army L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (1st Cl. Sergt-Instr., 1st Bn. G.I.P. Ry.Vol. Rif. Cps.) correction to unit; Commonwealth of Australia Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R. (Staff Sergt-Major, Instl. Staff) edge bruising, contact marks, nearly very fine and better (4) £450-550

John Martin was born in Bullevant, Co. Cork. He attested for the South Lancashire Regiment at Chester on 21 August 1891, aged 15 years, 8 months, and joined the regiment in Jersey two days later. He served as a Drummer until February 1892 when he reverted to Private and was promoted to Lance-Corporal in February 1894; Corporal in August 1895; Lance-Sergeant in March 1898; Sergeant in March 1899 and Colour-Sergeant in April 1902. Served in South Africa, November 1899-January 1903 and in India, January 1903-August 1913. In April 1906 he was transferred to the Bombay Unattached List as a 1st Class Sergeant-Instructor, posted to the Poona Volunteer Rifles and in March 1907, with the same rank, to the Great Indian Peninsula Railway Volunteers. Awarded the L.S. & G.C. in April 1910. Discharged on 21 August 1913 - listing Victoria Barracks, Melbourne, Australia as his intended place of residence. Awarded the Commonwealth of Australia M.S.M. as Staff Sergeant-Major of the 4th Military District (Commonwealth of Australia Gazette 7 June 1917).

With copied service and other papers. For his father’s medals, see lot 884.