Rededication service for Second Lieutenant Herbert Ernest Martin at Dadizeele New British Cemetery, Belgium

The rededication ceremony for Second Lieutenant Herbert Ernest Martin, 16th Battalion, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) took place at CWGC Dadizeele New British Cemetery, Belgium on 19 October 2022.

The service was organised by the MOD’s Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (JCCC), also known as the ‘MOD War Detectives’. It was conducted by The Reverend Andy Nicolls, CF. 2Lt Martin was previously commemorated on the CWGC Tyne Cot Memorial.

2Lt Martin's rededication was one of six happening around Ypres, Belgium over the 18 and 19 October for soldiers lost in World War One with each ceremony attended by family members and representatives from the current day equivalents of these casualties’ regiments (Royal Fusiliers, the Mercian Regiment, Royal Logistics Corps and the Royal Regiment of Scotland).

Louise Dorr, MOD JCCC case worker said:
“Our thanks go to several of our regular researchers, who have investigated these six graves and been able to prove who is buried in each of them. Thanks to their efforts we have been able to confirm their findings and return these soldiers’ names to them. I’m so honoured to have been able to be here to rededicate their final resting places.”

2Lt Martin's headstone was replaced by the CWGC as part of the rededication. 

Director for the Central and Southern European Area at the CWGC, Geert Bekaert, said: 
“We are privileged to be able to honour these six brave men, who all paid the ultimate sacrifice fighting in the Great War. Thanks to the research and work of many, we are able to renew our commitment to care for these soldiers’ graves, in perpetuity” 

Second Lieutenant Herbert Ernest Martin

2Lt Martin with a family member beside his headstone.

Herbert Martin was born in Peterborough in 1896 to William and Sarah (nee Clark) Martin. By the 1901 Census, the family had moved to Rupert Street in Nottingham, where he lived with his parents and two younger siblings, Constance and Jack. The 1911 Census records them as living in Chaucer Street, Mansfield. Although only aged 14, Herbert had left school and was employed as a Fish Hawker, a fish salesman who used a horse to transport his wares.

2Lt Martin was originally buried as UK 2Lt SR by the current N8 Ieperstraat road, northeast of Menen towards Gheluwe. Found in the same location were five other casualties, three of whom were Scottish Rifles who also shared the same date of death (14 October 1918). Although serving with 16th Cameronians, he was attached to 1st/8th battalion at the time of his death. Their war diary confirms that they saw action in the recovery location on 14 October; his death is mentioned by name, he was 22 years old.