United Kingdom. A Boer War & Mons Star First War Group, The Queen's Regiment

Boer War Pair, to Private James Martin, 2nd Battalion, The Queen's Regiment: Queen's South Africa Medal, 2 Clasps - ORANGE FREE STATE, TRANSVAAL (6328 Pte J. MARTIN. THE QUEEN'S.); and King's South Africa Medal, 2 Clasps - SOUTH AFRICA 1901, SOUTH AFRICA 1902 (6328 Pte J. MARTIN. THE QUEEN'S.). Naming is officially impressed. Unmounted, both with edge nicks, bruised, contact marks, replacement ribbons); First War Trio, to Gunner/Acting Bombardier James Martin, 3rd Divisional Ammunition Column, Royal Field Artillery/Royal Artillery: 1914 Star (37138 GNR: J. MARTIN. R.F.A.); British War Medal (37138 A. BMBR. J. MARTIN. R.A.); and Victory Medal (37138 A. BMBR. J. MARTIN. R.A.). Naming is officially impressed. Unmounted, edge nicks on the BWM and VM, pitting on the BWM, contact marks on all three, replacement ribbons). Accompanied by eight pages with copies of his Boer War and First War Service Records. Fine. Footnote: James Martin was born near Croydon, Surrey, England. He enlisted for service in the Boer War with The Queen's Regiment, signing his Attestation Paper as a Private (6328), at the age of 18 years and 8 months, on February 15, 1900 in Croydon, naming his next-of-kin as his mother, Harriett Martin of Thorton Heath, Surrey, stating that he had no previous military service, that he was not married and that his trade was that of Labourer. After receiving training in England, eight months later, he arrived in South Africa on October 10, 1900. Private Martin would serve for sixteen months in South Africa with the 2nd Battalion, The Queen's Regiment, until February 18, 1902. He is confirmed on the roll, dated October 17, 1901, as being entitled to the Queen's South Africa Medal with the Orange Free State and Transvaal clasps and is confirmed on the roll, dated March 30, 1903, as being entitled to the King's South Africa Medal with the South Africa 1901 and South Africa 1902 clasps. He would return home to England for ten and a half months, before travelling overseas once again, this time to India. He arrived in South Africa on January 6, 1903, where he would lay over for one week, before departing for India on the 13th. He is acknowledged as having served for over two years in India, from early 1904 to early 1906, before returning to England on March 9, 1906. During this time in India, Private Martin extended his period of Army service to eight years, on April 1, 1904. Also, he forfeited one Good Conduct Badge on September 30, 1904, however, he was granted his second Good Conduct Badge on January 4, 1905. Martin was transferred to the 54th Battery, Royal Field Artillery on March 1, 1905, in the rank of Gunner. While posted to England, he married Florence Barnath on April 4, 1909 at Croydon, under the alias of James Henry Fallingham. The couple would have three children: James Harvey (born August 22, 1909), Ellen Florence (born October 12, 1911) and Alice (born October 7, 1913). He re-engaged for service as a Gunner with the Royal Field Artillery, on February 10, 1912. Upon the outbreak of hostilities in July 1914, Martin, now aged 32, would prepare for future service in the European theatre during the First World War, which would come in one month's time. He was mobilized at Hilsea on August 5th and posted to the 3rd Divisional Ammunition Column, Royal Field Artillery on the 6th. Gunner Martin arrived in France on August 20, 1914 and it was here that he would serve with the 3rd Divisional Ammunition Column, Royal Field Artillery until late 1915. He was then posted to Salonica, Greece, from January 10, 1916 to November 8, 1918, where he served with the 129th Brigade, Royal Artillery. Martin was appointed Acting Bombardier on August 26, 1916, but reverted to Gunner one month later, on September 26th. A little over one year into his posting at Salonika, Martin was transferred to the Royal Engineers as a Sapper on February 16, 1917, with his service number changed to 237054. The following Spring, he was appointed Acting Lance Corporal on April 13, 1918, but reverted to Sapper upon his admission to hospital one month later, on May 11th. Upon the ceasing of hostilities, he returned to England on November 9, 1918. Seven weeks later, he was discharged from active service, on December 27, 1918, as he was "no longer fit for war service". After the war, Martin (AKA Fallingham) would take up residence in West Croydon, Surrey.