TOPIC:

Steve - did you follow the link to FaG? One of the photos there clearly shows his name on the side of The Royal - see below.



The article I took his likeness from has this to say:



I found another article reporting his death and saying the Firemen of Coventry had installed a commemorative plaque in the Coventry Fire Brigade Engine House - whether it still exists is another matter.

He previously served as a Gunner in the Royal Artillery and as the medal roll below shows was awarded the IGS Medal with a campaign clasp. Not quite sure of the notation on the clasp (can anybody help?) and cannot find a photo of one (does anybody have one?) - I think they are rare and sell for a good price. You can make out on the photo of him that he is wearing an IGS Medal with a clasp plus another less well defined medal.

The Old Fire Station in Hales Street is still standing, having closed for service in 1976. It is now a restaurant with the facade of the building remaining unchanged.
Perhaps the plaque is still within those walls? Definitely worth a look when next in Coventry area. I assume that he may also be named on the memorial to men of Coventry who fell in South Africa, which I think is located in the Coventry Cathedral.
Looks like a trip to the city is in order!

London - Harrow School Chapel

Warwickshire - St Mary's Church

Warwickshire: St Mary's Church - Royal Warwickshire Regiment Memorial

I wrote: I found another article reporting his death and saying the Firemen of Coventry had installed a commemorative plaque in the Coventry Fire Brigade Engine House - whether it still exists is another matter."

Steve replied: "The Old Fire Station in Hales Street is still standing, having closed for service in 1976. It is now a restaurant with the facade of the building remaining unchanged.
Perhaps the plaque is still within those walls? Definitely worth a look when next in Coventry area. I assume that he may also be named on the memorial to men of Coventry who fell in South Africa, which I think is located in the Coventry Cathedral. Looks like a trip to the city is in order!"

Steve my, off the cuff, comment was bit misleading - I have now re-found the article:



I read the last para as meaning they added his name & details of death to an existing "tablet" commemorating firemen who had died in the line of duty - this would almost certainly have been preserved and I suspect have been moved to the modern fire station when the Hales Lane premises was repurposed.

304 William Martin who appears on the war memorials supplied by Elmarie was born in Portsmouth c1866 but married Ellen Selina Gorsuch in Coventry in 1891 and both their children were born in Coventry (1893 & 1895) and he gave a Coventry address for Ellen when he attested in January 1900. He gave his occupation as "Silk Manufacturer". He died of wounds on 1st November 1900 at Tirie(?) River.

Btw - There is an 1896 newspaper report of the licence for The Royal being transferred to WFL - so the photo with his name on the side probably was taken about the time he was in SA and the mode of dress is consistent with that notion.

Steve - Good luck with your visit to Coventry - not a city I know with only two visits both involving the blitzed old cathedral and the new one.