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203482 ‘B’ Company, 4th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment
Basil Martin was born around 1893 in Sudbury, one of nine children of Herbert and Maria Martin. His father was employed as a stoker at the local gas works and the family lived at Elliston’s Yard, Ballingdon Street before moving to 61Ballingdon Street. At the age of nineteen Basil was employed as a labourer at the local brickworks.
He enlisted in Sudbury on 9 March 1916 and served with the Middlesex Regiment (formerly 5885). He embarked at Folkestone on 26 December 1916 landing at Calais. He was sent to the large military training camp at Etaples, known for its strict discipline and rigorous training until he joined his battalion on 6 April 1917.
The battalion formed part of 63rd Brigade which in 1916 had transferred to 37th Division. In April 1917 the Division saw action during the Arras Offensive at the First Battle of the Scarpe (9 – 14 April) and the Second Battle of the Scarpe (23 -24 April).
Less than three weeks after joining his battalion Basil died of wounds received in action on 23 April 1917, he was aged 24. He lies buried in St. Nicolas British Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France. A Cross of Remembrance was laid by his grave in September 2016.
Basil was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal. He is also remembered on Baptist Church Memorial in Church Street.
His older brother Bertie lost his life in Gallipoli in 1915 and is also remembered on the Sudbury War Memorial.
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