Oct 26, 1893

Born in Ottawa, Ontario to Oliver Gerald and Emily (nee Morphy) Martin

In 1912, he began studies at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario before transferring to the School of Dentistry at the University of Toronto in 1913

Nov 9, 1914

Attested into the 21^st Battalion in Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Number 59641 (temporary number 835)

Ø  Next of kin given as Oliver Martin, father, 29 Melgund Ave., Ottawa, Ontario

Ø  Previous occupation given as Student

o   Later noted as a Dental Student

Ø  No previous military experience given

Ø  Religion given as Presbyterian

Ø  Posted to “H” Company

o   This was later reorganized into “D” Company

The 21^st Battalion trained in the Kingston, Ontario area through the winter of 1914-15.

Dec 19, 1914

Appointed to the provisional rank of Corporal

Feb 1, 1915

Admitted to Kingston Hospital with a diagnosis that reads Bronchitis

Feb 3, 1915

Discharged to duty from hospital

Apr 9, 1915

Appointed to the provisional rank of Lance Sergeant with pay

May 6, 1915

Embarked the RMS Metagama in Montreal, Quebec

May 15, 1915

Disembarked in Devonport, England and the battalion proceeded to the West Sandling Camp, near Hythe, Kent to continue training

Jul 1, 1915

Confirmed in the rank of Corporal

Aug 6, 1915

While training, Corporal Martin stepped in a rabbit hole and twisted his ankle.  He was treated by the battalion’s Medical Officer

Aug 9, 1915

Admitted to the Moore Barracks Hospital with a sprained ankle when it became more swollen and discoloured

Aug 22, 1915

Discharged from hospital to duty

Sep 14, 1915

Embarked the St. Seiriol in Folkestone

Sep 15, 1915

Disembarked in Boulogne, France and the battalion proceeded to St. Omer

Sep 25, 1915

Attached to the 2^nd Division Mining Section

Jan 1, 1916

Promoted to the rank of Sergeant and appointed to Acting Quartermaster Sergeant

Jan 12, 1916

Transferred to the 3^rd Canadian Tunnelling Company

Feb 1, 1916

Confirmed in rank of Quartermaster Sergeant

Jun 15, 1916

Appointed to rank of Temporary Lieutenant and posted to the No. 2 Tunnelling Company

Jun 19, 1916

Joined the 2^nd Canadian Tunnelling Company at Reninghelst, Belgium

Jul 10, 1916

Granted 7 days leave

Jul 19, 1916

Rejoined the tunnelling company at Mount Sorrel from leave

Oct 14, 1916

Admitted to the No. 10 CCS (Casualty Clearing Station) with a diagnosis that reads Epididymitis

Nov 28, 1916

Granted 10 days leave

Dec 5, 1916

Married to Olive Jeannette Baker in the Saint Michael’s and All Angels’ Church, Leicester, England.  Olive was from Ottawa, Ontario and joined him in England for the wedding

Dec 9, 1916

Rejoined the tunnelling company at Reninghelst from leave

May 1, 1917

Granted 10 days leave

May 12, 1917

Rejoined the tunnelling company at Reninghelst from leave

Jun 17, 1917

Admitted to the No. 98 Field Ambulance with a diagnosis that reads VDG (Venereal Disease Gonorrhea).  He was transferred the same day to the No. 10 Casualty Clearing Station where the diagnosis was changed to read VDS (Venereal Disease Syphilis).  He was then transferred to the No. 2 Casualty Clearing Station

Jun 19, 1917

Transferred via the No. 8 AT (Ambulance Train) and admitted to the No. 1 Red Cross Hospital in Le Touquet, France

Jun 20, 1917

Transferred to the No. 39 General Hospital in Havre

Jul 1, 1917

Transferred to the No. 51 General Hospital in Etaples

Jul 13, 1917

Discharged from hospital and reported to the CGBD (Canadian General Base Depot) in Etaples

Aug 28, 1917

Rejoined the tunnelling company at Reninghelst from the base depot

Nov 10, 1917

Granted 10 days leave to the UK

Nov 25, 1917

Rejoined the tunnelling company at Reninghelst from leave

Feb 3, 1918

Granted 10 days leave to Paris

Feb 12, 1918

Rejoined the tunnelling company at Reninghelst from leave

May 24, 1918

To be Temporary Captain per London Gazette #31003

Jul 7, 1918

Transferred to the 11^th Battalion Canadian Engineers and attached to the CEMTC (Canadian Engineer Motor Transport Company)

Jul 20, 1918

Ceased to be attached and joined the 11^th Battalion Canadian Engineers near Maroeuil, France

Aug 2, 1918

Lieutenant Martin proceeded to England with the intent to return to Canada to resume medical studies and was posted to the Canadian Engineers Regimental Depot in Seaford

On arrival in Seaford, he was granted leave while waiting for transport to Canada

Aug 21, 1918

Ceased to be on leave and transferred to Canada

Aug 22, 1918

Embarked the SS Aquitania in Liverpool with his wife Olive

Aug 28, 1918

Disembarked in New York City, New York, USA and proceeded to Kingston, Ontario where he was Taken On Strength Military District No. 3 Casualty Company

Sep 16, 1918

Discharged from the CEF in Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Rank on discharge Lieutenant

Ø  Entitled to War Service Badge Class “A”

Ø  Proposed residence on discharge 29 Melgund, Ave., Ottawa, Ontario

He was discharged in order to continue his medical studies as a Dental Student at University of Toronto

Following the end of the war, the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to him at 144 Laurier Ave. W., Ottawa, Ontario

Nov 7, 1918

Medical Board in Toronto, Ontario notes

Ø  Man is shown as a member of the Reserve of Officers list

Ø  Patient suffers from DAH (Disordered Activity of the Heart)

Ø  Complains of rapid heart rate on exertion and palpitations with shortness of breath

Ø  Patient smokes 25 cigarettes per day

Ø  He claims to have suffered palpitations while at the front, but they are worse now

From the 1921 University of Toronto Year Book
School of Dentistry

Jan 1, 1947

Lawrence Martin served in WW2 with the rank of 2^nd Lieutenant, but on this date was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant with seniority to be dated February 10, 1945, per London Gazette Supplement 1536 dated April 4, 1947

Oct 31, 1969

Lawrence Melville Martin died in the Ottawa Hospital.  He was cremated at the Beechwood Cemetery, Ottawa, Ontario