In Canada Farm Cemetery, West Vlaanderen, near Ypres, Belgium, is the Commonwealth War Grave of 10532 Private Martin Elmore serving with the 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards who died 05/08/1917.
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Martin Elmore, one of 9 children, was the youngest of 8 sons and 1 daughter. His father Luke Elmore born in Ireland in 1849 settled in the north east where he married Mary Ann Tucker in 1875 a native of Newcastle upon Tyne, born 1855. The family moved extensively as Luke was employed as a coal miner/hewer. Their only daughter Winifred was born in 1875 at Kenton, a suburb of Newcastle upon Tyne, Luke Jnr 1876 at Haswell, County Durham, William 1880 at Renton, Northumberland, John 1882 at Fence Houses, Patrick 1885 at Haswell, Michael 1887 at Felling, all in County Durham, James 1889 at Newcastle upon Tyne, Thomas 1891 at Thornley, baptised March 20th 1892 at The Sacred Heart and English Martyrs and Martin 1896 at South Shields, where he was baptised March 18th, both in County Durham.
In 1891 the family were living at Swinburne Street, Thornley where Luke was employed at the colliery as was Luke Jnr, a pony driver. Ten years later they were at 6, Wood Houses, Washington, Patrick and Michael both worked below ground at the colliery as a labourer and pony driver respectively, by 1911 Michael and Martin were the only of Luke and Mary Anne’s children living at home at 22, Railway Street, Littleburn, County Durham, working at the pit, as was there father. It is also recorded that four of their children (all sons) had died.
When war was declared in 1914 Martin was living at High Felling, parish of St, Mary, Heworth, Gateshead, County Durham, employed at the colliery, however, he was also a Territorial. He was part of the first wave of men who departed to France with the British Expeditionary Force as Private 10532 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards, August 21st 1914. The regiment moved to Belgium participating at the First Battle of Ypres, October 19th-November 22nd 1914, where the 1st Battalion was virtually annihilated, by November they were down to only 150 men and the Lieutenant Quartermaster. Reinforced they fought at Loos in September 1915, during the Battles of the Somme 1916, before returning to Belgium participating during the Third Battle of Ypres July-November 1917.
Private 10532 Martin Elmore was wounded in the line of duty and died August 5th 1917, he was interred at Canada Farm Cemetery, West Vlaanderen, near Ypres, Belgium, grave 11. E. 39. The cemetery takes its name from a farmhouse used as a dressing station, most of the burials in this cemetery are of men who died there between June-October 1917. Private Elmore was 25 years of age and single.
All monies owed to him by the Army, as per his request, were divided amongst his brothers. Luke and Michael each received 1 pound 11 shillings 3 pence, his mother Isabella, on behalf of his brother Patrick, killed in action in 1917, to be used for his children, 1 pound 11 shillings 2 pence and brother John the same.
Patrick’s mother Mary Ann Elmore nee Tucker died in 1919 aged 64 years, district of Lanchester, County Durham, details as regards the demise of his father Luke Elmore are unknown.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Martin Elmore is remembered at Heworth on H92.03 at Whickham with his brother Patrick on W86.09 and at Dunston Hill again with Patrick on D31.01
