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ΤΑ ΠΕΡΙΕΡΓΑ

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James Martin was the
youngest Australian Soldier to die in World
War one.
Born 3rd January 1901 and died 25 October
1915.
James was only 14 years and nine months old
when he succumbed to typhoid during the
Gallipoli Campaign. He was one of 20
Australian Soldiers, under the age of 18 known
to have died in World War One.
James Martin was born to Amelia and Charles
Martin on 3 January 2025 in Tocumwal, New
South Wales. Martin’s family moved to many
different suburbs in and around Melbourne,
Before finally settling in Hawthorn, in 1910.
He was the third of six children, and the only
son.
He attended Manningree Road State School from
1910 to 1915, during which time he also
received basic military training as a junior
Army cadet.
After the outbreak of
World War One, Martin enlisted in the
Australian Imperial Force,
On 12 April 1915, against the wishes of his
family. His parents finally agreed however
when he made it clear that would sign on under
a different name, and never write to them if
they did not approved. He gave a false date of
birth to the recruiting officer, claiming to
be 18, when he was actually 14 years and three
months. Martin joined the 1ST
Reinforcements of the 21ST
Battalion as a private and trained in
Broadmeadows and Seymour camps in Victoria,
before boarding HMAT Berrima in June 1915 to
deploy to Egypt, in late July.
In late August, he was
sent to Gallipoli on the ship HMT Southland,
to take part in the fighting against the
Turkish Army, which had by that time developed
into a stalemate. En route, Southland was
torpedoed by a German submarine off the Island
of LEMNOS, and Martin was rescued after
spending four hours in the water. After been
picked up, he rejoined his Battalion
at MUDROS Island, where they were transferred
to the transport ship Abassieh on 7TSeptember,and
resume their voyage to Gallipoli.
The following morning
just before 2.00am, Martin’s section landed at
ANZAC COVE.
As the fighting dragged
on , winter approached and the weather on the
Gallipoli Peninsula began to take its toll on
the Soldiers in the trenches.
Following a period of cold temperatures and
heavy rain, Martin contracted enteric fever,
in the trenches. After suffering mild symptoms
for about a fortnight, and during which he
refused treatment, he subsequently evacuated
to the hospital ship Glenart Castle on 25THOctober
1915.
He died of heart failure that night, at the
age of 14 and nine month’s, and was buried at
sea the next day.
At the time of his death only Martin’s parents
and his best friend, Cec Hogan, who was
himself only 16, knew Martin’s real age.
Steve Kyritsis
President
Hellenic RSL Melbourne
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GREEK-AUSTRALIANS
| in the
Australian Forces
PRISONERS OF WAR
WWII 1939-45
ALEXANDRATOS DIOMEDES, from
Victoria, age 20. (RAF) Germany.
BLACK (MAVROKEFALOS), John, from
Victoria, age 26. (RAF) Germany.
BYLOS, VINCENT, from NSW (+) age
22. (ARMY) Singapore
CAIMANOS, JOHN, from NSW age 38.
(ARMY) Thailand
COLIVAS, GEORGE, from NSW age
19. (ARMY) Thailand-Singapore-Japan
COMINO, JACK, (+) from NSW age
23. (ARMY) Thailand
DALAS, FREDERICK, (+) from NSW
age 30. (ARMY) Singapore
DEMUS, HENRY, (+) from NSW age
21. (ARMY) Sandakan-Borneo
DIMOPOULOS, PETER, from NSW age
21. (ARMY) Singapore
DOULIS, MICHAEL, from W.A age
32. (ARMY) Singapore
FREELEAGUS, CHARLES, from QLD
age 22 (ARMY) Burma-Thailand
GEORGE (PAPAGEORGIOU)
CONSTANTINOS, from Victoria age 21. (RAF) France
GLYTSOS, EMANUEL, from NSW age
20. (ARMY) Singapore
HARRIS (VAMVAKARIS) GEORGE (+)
from Victoria age 33. (ARMY) Singapore
KARIKIOS, DIMITRIOS, from NSW
age 27. (ARMY) Changi-Thailand
KARCOES, NORMAN, from NSW age
21. (ARMY) Singapore
KYRIAKOS (KYROS) JACK GEORGE,
from NT age 20. (ARMY) Malaya-Singapore
LIKIARD (LIKIARDOPOULOS)
SOCRATES, (+) from QLD age 20 (HMAS Perth) China Sea
MANUSU, IVAN, NSW (+) from NSW
age 30. (ARMY) Thailand
MAVROTHALASITIS, GEORGE, (+)
from W.A age24. (ARMY) Singapore-China Sea
MESOLOGETES (MOLLOY) JOHN, from
NSW age 21. (ARMY) Singapore
NICHOLAOU, ANTONIS, (+) from QLD
age 38. (ARMY) Singapore-Japan
NICHOLAOU (NICHOLSON) COSTAS,
from NSW age 22. (ARMY) Singapore-Malaya
OMIRIDES PETER VASILIOS, from
W.A age 20. (ARMY) Malaya-Thailand
PANAOTIE, JOHN, from Victoria
age 29. (ARMY) Borneo
PANIOTI, NICHOLAS From Victoria
age 21. (ARMY) Singapore
PAPANGELOPOULOS (ANGEL)
LEONIDAS, from NSW age 39. (ARMY) Singapore
RAFT,(RAFTOPOULOS)STANLEY, (+)
from NSW age23. (ARMY) Malaya-Thailand-China Sea
VAFIOPULOUS, GEORGE, from NSW
age 23. (ARMY) Malaya-Changi.
Total 29 Greek-Australians
Prisoners, in World War Two.
+10
Greek-Australians died as Prisoners of War, in World
War Two.
Steve Kyritsis. Source “Greek
Australians in the Australian Forces WWI & WWII”
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