Service Rank and Number / Rheng gwasanaeth a rhif: Private No. 175.
Ref No Grave or Memorial / Rhif cyfeirnod bedd: Panel 199.
During January 1915 he initially enlisted with 5th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers at the Drill Hall, Rhyl, later transferring to the Army Cyclist Corps. On Monday 19 July 1915 he sailed from Devonport with the Battalion, via Alexandria to Gallipoli arrived in Sulva Bay on Sunday 8 August 1915. He died of wounds on Sunday 29 August, 1915.
Francis James Martin was born in Buxton, Derbyshire, England in 1884.
The 1891 Cenus shows that the family lived at 1a Milton Street, Broughton, Salford, Lancashire. The head of the family was Peter Martin aged 35, a Fishmonger. His wife Annie Martin and their four children – Edward Martin aged 11, Francis James Martin aged 7, Alice Martin aged 5 and Kate Martin aged 1 year.
In 1906, Francis married Rose Ellen Herbert. The 1911 Census shows that the family lived at 22 Solent Street, Beswick, Manchester, Lancashire, England. Francis was employed as a Poultry Salesman. They had two children – Winifred Martin aged 3 and Frederick Martin aged 1 year.
The family at some stage moved to 11 Kinmel Street, Rhyl, Flintshire.
Six other soldiers from 5th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, who are remembered on the Rhyl War Memorial were killed in action at Sulva Bay on 10 August 1915 – Private 2554 Bertie Campini of 36 Ffynnongroew Road, Rhyl, Private 876 Peter Edwards, Private 1287 David Jones of 11 Brickfield Terrace, Rhyl, Private 857 William Jones of 122 Wellington Road, Rhyl, Second Lieutenant Robert Clare Walton of 11 Garden Lane, Chester and Sergeant William Wilton. Two other Rhyl Soldiers who are also remembered on the Rhyl War Memorial were also killed in action or died from wounds at Sulva Bay some days later – Private 1596 John Haines, 5th Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers, of 9 West Street, Rhyl on Monday 16 August 1915, and Private 3248 Edward Davies, 5th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers of 80 Vale Road, Rhyl, Flintshire on Sunday 22 August 1915.
Francis James Martin is also remembered on a Remembrance plaque at The Royal Alexandra Hospital, Marine Drive, Rhyl, Flintshire and The North Wales Heroes Memorial Arch, Deiniol Road, Bangor, North Wales.