Photo: Derek Haynes

Derek Haynes has provided the following:

Robert’s birth was registered in the March Q 1922 in Sunderland. He was the eldest of three sons to Robert & Catherine Cecilia Martin (nee Goaley), who were married March Q 1921, also in Sunderland. The other two sons from the marriage were Kevin B. born December Q 1923 and Dennis born June Q 1926.

The year 1926 not only saw the birth of a third son, it was also the time that Robert and Catherine made what must have been the decision of a lifetime. The Martin family was to start a new life by emigrating to Sydney, Australia. There is no documentation explaining the reasoning behind the family emigrating, but by looking at what was happening around the country at that time may go a long way to explain why they made that decision. At one minute to midnight on the 3rd of May 1926 a General Strike was called across the United Kingdom in support of striking coal miners. Coal owners wanted the miners to work longer hours for less money. The General Strike was called off after nine days without a single concession being made to the miner’s case. The miners remained defiant and continued to strike but, with no support and no means of income, many were forced to return to work. Those who were taken on ended up working longer hours with lower wages, while many remained unemployed for a number of years.

On the 2nd September 1926 an article appeared in the Sunderland Daily Echo & Shipping Gazette on the emigration of miners from the Durham coalfields:
“The chronic trouble and unrest in the British coalfields are causing many miners in Co. Durham to turn increasingly towards emigration as a solution of their difficulties.”

As a miner Robert Senior would have had to face up to those difficulties, was it this that made him decide that emigration was the answer?

On the 30th of October 1926 the family set sail on the S.S. Osterley from the Port of London, their destination Sydney, Australia. Also travelling with them was Catherine’s 18 year old sister Norah Goaley.
Australia declared war with Germany on the 3rd September 1939. Without access to Robert’s service records it is not known when he enlisted. A report of Robert’s death appeared in the Sunderland Echo, and from this we do know that he served in Syria and Palestine with the Royal Australian Artillery. In 1941 he was transferred to the Royal Australian Air Force, his service number was 424640. In early April 1945 Robert died as the result of an accident at Foxton, Market Harborough in the County of Leicestershire.

The following report appeared in the Sunderland Echo:Air Officer Killed
Mrs. S. Martin of 35 Faber Road, Southwick, has received intimation that her grandson Flying Officer Robert Martin (23), R.A.A.F., has been killed in a flying accident. Flying officer Martin, who belongs with his parents Mr. and Mrs. Robert Martin to Sydney Australia, joined the Royal Australian Artillery about five years ago and served in Syria and Palestine before being transferred to the Air Force in 1941.

His body was returned home to his grandmother’s home in Southwick and on the 16th April 1945 he was laid to rest in Section 2, Grave no. 588 of Southwick Cemetery. A CWGC headstone marks his final resting place.Inscribed at the base of the stone are the words: PLEASE PRAY FOR MY SOUL / REQUIESCAT IN PACE.

Robert’s grandfather Matthew, who had passed away in September 1941 aged 74 years, was laid to rest on the 10th September 1941 in the same plot as his grandson. Grandmother Sarah continued to reside at 35 Faber Road until her death on the 1st March aged 85 years. She was laid to rest on the 5th March 1955 in Section 2 Grave no. 572, and though not in the same plot as her husband and grandson she is close by.

Robert Martin is remembered in Monkwearmouth on M46.02 page 72, in Hetton-le-Hole on M46.02 page 72 and in Peter Gibson's book

The CWGC entry for Flying Officer Martin