Edward Arthur Martyn was born on 26 December 1888 in Linkfield Lane, Isleworth, Middlesex (now Greater London), the eldest of the six children of Arthur Edward Martyn (1863-1897) and Annie E. Martyn, née Voller (1869-1951) His birth was registered on 6 February 1889 in the Brentford Registration District, Middlesex (now Greater London). He was baptised on 17 February 1889 at St John the Baptist Church, Isleworth, where in the baptismal register his family were shown as living in Linkfield Lane, Isleworth and that his father was a Brewer’s Labourer.
His five siblings were: Nell Amelia Martyn (1890-1909); Phyllis Mary Martyn (1892-1983); Ivy Annie Beatrice Martyn (1899-1976); Rose Louise Martyn (1901-1999) and Ann Elizabeth Martyn (1904-1995).
In the 1891 census he is shown as aged 2 years living in a four roomed property at 9 Brewery Cottages, St John’s Road, Isleworth, with his parents and his sister Nell Amelia Martyn. His father was described as a brewer's labourer.
He enlisted in the 1st Battalion, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment on 16 January 1905, service number 8231.
He married Mildred Ellen Smith (b.1888) on 17 April 1910 at St John’s Church, Ealing, Middlesex (now Greater London) where in the marriage register he is shown as aged 23 years, a bachelor and a soldier residing at 21 Princes Road, Ealing, whilst his wife was described as aged 23 years and a spinster, also living at 21 Princes Road, the daughter of Stephen Smith, deceased, a foreman. Before their marriage, wedding banns were read on three consecutive Sundays commencing on 27 March 1910 in his parish church of South Tidworth, Hampshire. Their daughter Nellie Amelia Martyn (1910-1993) was born on 30 September 1910.
He entered France with his regiment on 12 August 1914 and was discharged on 9 April 1915 as a Private who was medically unfit with an injured right arm and was awarded a Silver War Badge. He was also awarded the 1914 Star with the '5th Aug-22nd Nov 1914' Clasp, the British War Medal 1914-1918 and the Victory Medal.
When he completed his 1921 census return form he showed himself as Edward Martyn, aged 33 years and 6 months, married and an electrician working on his own account at 43 Kentish Town Road, Camden Town, North London. He was living in two rooms at 21 Woburn Square, Holborn, London, with his wife and their daughter.
In June 1928 he was appointed as a porter in the Post Office London South West District. On 5 January 1933 he was appointed as porter in the Post Office Savings Bank Department and finally on 23 February 1938 as a mail porter in the London Postal Service.
During the Second World War he was a local Air Raid Precautions Warden and was found dead on 12 October 1940 at his home at 39 Moreton Place, Pimlico, London, SW1 following an air-raid during the previous night. His death, aged 47 years was registered in the 4th quarter of 1940 in the Westminster Registration District, London. Probate records state that letters of administration of his estate were granted to his widow on 22 April 1943 and that his effects totalled £214-15s-0d. On 10 May 1943 Royal Mail sent his £176-12s-9d gratuity for his services as a porter at the Western District Office of the London Postal Region to his wife's solicitors.
He is shown as 'MARTYN E.A.' on the Western Postal District war memorial in Mount Pleasant, London, WC1. He is also commemorated on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's website, on the WW2 Civilian Roll of Honour held in Westminster Abbey and on the Imperial War Museum's Lives of the First World War website.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
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