MARTINDALE John William Pattinson 1886 – 1918 – The Gaunless Valley in World War 1

JOHN WILLIAM PATTINSON MARTINDALE 1886 – 1918

4229 Private John William Martindale, 7th Battalion, The Highland Light Infantry died of pneumonia 25 April 1916, aged 29. He is buried at Bishop Auckland (Escomb) Cemetery[1] and is commemorated on Witton Park war memorials.

Family Details

John W.P. Martindale was born in 1886 [2] at Stanhope, County Durham, the son of Thomas and Isabella Martindale. There were at least 3 children:[3]

John William Patterson born 1886 at South Church
Sarah Hannah Isabella bc.1894 at Stanhope
Thomas Obadiah bc1898 at Stanhope

In 1891, 33 years old Thomas, Isabella and William lived at Windy Side, Stanhope[4] where Thomas was employed as a lead miner. By 1901, Thomas and his family lived at Front Street, Stanhope where Thomas was employed as a, “draper and grocer own account”.[5] By 1911, Thomas and family lived at Church Street, Witton Park where 53 years old Thomas was recorded, “out of health”, presumably out of work due to ill health. John, now 24, was employed as a, “Licensed Oil Merchant”. [6]

John’s brother serving as 74225 Private Thomas Obadiah Martindale, 1st Battalion, Notts and Derby Regiment (Sherwood Foresters) died of wounds 23 September 1918, aged 21. He is buried at Terlincthun British Military Cemetery, Wimille, France.

Military Details

The service record of John W.P. Martindale has not been traced. He joined the 7th (Blythswood) Battalion, The Highland Light Infantry (HLI). This battalion was part of the Territorial Force, formed in August 1914 at Bridgeton, Glasgow and was part of the Highland Light Infantry Brigade in the Lowland Division which, on mobilisation, moved to Dunfermline. In May 1915, it came under the orders of the 157th Brigade, 52nd (Lowland) Division. The 157th (HLI) Brigade comprised:[7]

1/5th Bn., HLI
1/6th Bn., HLI
1/7th Bn., HLI
1/9th Bn., left November 1914
1/5th Bn., The Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders April 1915 – June 1918

26 May 1915: The Division sailed from Devonport for Gallipoli, via Egypt (5-28 June), Mudros (1 July) and landing at Cape Helles, 3 July 1915. It was involved in the following engagements:

28 & 29 Hune: Gully Ravine
12 & 13 July: Achi Baba Nullah
29 December: Krithia Nullahs

8 January 1916: The Division evacuated from Gallipoli going to Mudros, arriving in Egypt in February 1916.[8]

2 March: The Division took over the Suez Canal defences at No.3 Section and was involved in the Palestine Campaign. [9]

It seems likely that Private J.W.P. Martindale became ill in England since he did not go overseas in May 1915 with his battalion. Had he done so, he would have been awarded the 1914-15 Star but no record has been traced. He died at Chelmsford.[10]

Awards and Medals

John W.P. Martindale – no medals have been traced.

Death and Burial

Private John William Martindale, 7th Battalion, The Highland Light Infantry died of pneumonia 25 April 1916 aged 29. He is buried at grave reference C.E.374, Bishop Auckland (Escomb) Cemetery. [11] His mother organised for the following epitaph to be inscribed on his headstone:

“They Will Be Done”