Martin James French

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Martin also served in World War II. He died in Wagga Wagga in January 1954. His obituary in the ''Daily Advertiser'' states that he was a keen sportsman who was a member of the town’s 1st AIF cricket team. He was also a well-known bandsman. Representatives from the local RSL attended Martin’s funeral; one of whom sounded ''The Last Post'' on his bugle.
Martin also served in World War II. He died in Wagga Wagga in January 1954. His obituary in the ''Daily Advertiser'' states that he was a keen sportsman who was a member of the town’s 1st AIF cricket team. He was also a well-known bandsman. Representatives from the local RSL attended Martin’s funeral; one of whom sounded ''The Last Post'' on his bugle.
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*  Tim French 2014
*  Tim French 2014

Revision as of 01:41, 8 August 2014

FRENCH, Martin James

Service no: 17299 [1]

Place of birth: Orange, 17 December 1877

Address: 9 Duxford Street, Paddington

Occupation: Salesman

Next of kin: Nicholas French (father), Post Office, Westbury, TAS

Date of enlistment: 27 January 1916

Place of enlistment: Sydney

Age at enlistment: 39

Fate: Embarked HMAT Clan McGillivray A46 Melbourne10 May 1917. Disembarked Plymouth 25 July 1917. Trained at Australian Engineers Training Depot, Brightlingsea, Essex from 29 July 1917 to March 1918. Assigned to 12th Company Engineers, 4th Division in France 8 March 1918. Returned to Australia 26 August 1919. Discharged 25 September 1919.

Date of death: 11 January 1954, Wagga Base Hospital

Buried: Wagga Monumental Cemetery


Martin James French was born in Orange on 17 Dec 1877 to Nicholas and Mary French. In 1899 he was working as a barman in the Federal (later Empire) Hotel, which belonged to his father. Between 1903 and 1908 Martin lived in Kalgoorlie in Western Australia, where he worked for a time as a tram conductor.

Martin was living in Sydney and working as a salesman when he enlisted in January 1916. He embarked from Melbourne in May 1917, arriving in England in July. Martin attended the Australian Engineers Training Depot in Brightlingsea in Essex for eight months before proceeding to France as a sapper with the 12th Company Engineers. He served in France for over a year, returning to Australia in August 1919.

After the war Martin moved to Westbury in Tasmania, where he worked with his brother Tom, first as a store manager and then as a traveller. In 1930 he relocated to Wagga Wagga, where his three sisters lived, and in 1933 married Elizabeth Scott.

Martin also served in World War II. He died in Wagga Wagga in January 1954. His obituary in the Daily Advertiser states that he was a keen sportsman who was a member of the town’s 1st AIF cricket team. He was also a well-known bandsman. Representatives from the local RSL attended Martin’s funeral; one of whom sounded The Last Post on his bugle.


  • Tim French 2014
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