My Great Grand Uncle Michael McGrath was born in the townland of Croanwalsh near Clonmel, Co. Tipperary in late 1890. He emigrated to Western Australia early in the 20th century. in January 1916 he joined the Australian Army where he was posted to the Artillery. He was assigned to the Divisional Artillery Column of the Australian 3rd Division. Michael left Australia in May 1916 for the UK where after further training the Division left for Franch in November of that year. His records show that apart from occasional illness he served without indicent until the end of the war and never rose beyond the rank of gunner. In April 1919 he left the AIF while still in the UK and returned to Ireland. As he chose to leave the Australian Army in the UK he was required to sign a waiver acknowledging that the Australian Government were no longer obliged to transport him back to Australia at their expense. He eventually became involved in the Irish war of Independence and was killed while serving as an officer in the Anti-Treaty IRA in the closing stages of the Civil War in May 1923.

Family account document Photograph Satirical poem postcard Memorial scroll Official correspondence with Commonwealth War Graves Commission || The story is about the contributor's great uncles, John F. T. Martin, who served with the 7th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment (13409), and Jack Fenwick Martin who served with the 1st Battalion Kings Own Lancaster Regiment (27035), plus their older brother George. The account was written by contributor's cousin, John Steel, who has agreed for this account to be digitized. It covers 14 pages including descriptions of the 7th Lincolns at war from July 1915 to March 1916, including a map of Ypres and description and map of the Battle of the Bluff, together with several other digitized items. The father and the uncles all joined up together from a small village in Lincolnshire. The youngest brother was 16 years old and lied about his age when he joined up. John and Jack were both killed in action. John F. Martin died March 24, 1916 22 days after being wounded in the Battle of the Bluff. He lay wounded in the field for four days before being picked up and taken to the hospital at Etaples. He was buried at Etaples Military Cemetery. From the account: a captain in the battalion said after the battle I have always regarded the German bombardment put down on us by the Germans during and after our capture of the Bluff as the heaviest bombardment I have ever experienced. Jack was badly wounded at the Battle of Arras in April 1917. He eventually arrived at Le Treport Military Hospital, where he died on 11 May 1917, aged 19, and buried in Mont Huon Military Cemetery Le Treport. Photo in account with caption: George Martin ... late 1917 with one black button in mourning for my brother Jack. Jack survived the war and returned to work on the railways. || || Martin Brothers, John, Jack and George || Artillery || Family record of J.F.T. Martin & J.F. Martin || Memoir || Trench Life || || Belgium || Memoir || 7th Lincolns at war in Belgium July-Sept 1915 || || Trench Life || 7th Lincolns at war in Belgium Sept-Oct 1915 || Memoir || Belgium || || Memoir || Graphic description of conditions in trenches nov./dec. 1915 || Trench Life || Artillery || || Map || Belgium || Map of the Battle of Ypres || Ypres || || Battle of the Bluff, Belgium March 1916; Plan and attack || Artillery || Trench Life || Battle of the Bluff || Memoir || || Map || Trench Life || Battle of the Bluff || Map of the Battle of the Bluff || || Artillery || Memoir || Trench Life || Detailed and moving account of events. John was in great pain but still conscious and able to ask the friend to finish him off and tell his mother he had died quick. At this point the other soldier was caught up in the swath of advancing troops and never saw John again ... but lived out the war passing on this detail to the family on his return to Lincolnshire after the war. || Wounding of Private John Martin at Battle of Bluff March 1916 || || Death of John Martin at Etaples Military Hospital, Northern France, 24 March 2016 || Death of Pte John Martin at Etaples Military Hospital, 24 March 2016 || Medical || Memoir || || Jack Martin || Artillery || Trench Life || Memoir || Arras || Battle of Arras April 1917 || || Photograph of George Martin, late 1917 || Photograph || George Martin || || Satirical poem postcard At our camp, sent from a training camp in 1915, vividly depicting the training camp conditions (incessant drill, rats, lack of food, etc.) || Satirical poem postcard At our camp - 1915 || Training camp conditions 1915 || || Memorial scroll for one of the Martin brothers || Official document || Remembrance

John Lawrence (front).