Martin, John Edward (Private, b.1919 - d.2010)

Collection relating to the Second World War service of NX2641 Private John Edward Martin, 2/1 Australian Infantry Battalion, Second Australian Imperial Force, Australia.

Wallet 1 of 1 – Consists of one memoir of Private John Edward Martin. This typed memoir covers the period of Private Martin’s time as a prisoner of war of the Germans, between 1941 and 1944. In his memoir, Private Martin writes about the prisoners refusing to work on Sundays, several failed attempts to escape from the camp, being in solitary confinement, hearing that his friend was shot by the Germans, successfully escaping from the camp with some friends, travelling to Hungary, being re-captured and handed back to the Germans, escaping yet again, travelling to a town occupied by Americans, and flying to England via France.

Private John Edward Martin enlisted to the Second Australian Imperial Force on 2 November 1939. He served with 2/1 Australian Infantry Battalion in Palestine, Egypt, Libya and Greece. In May 1941, Private Martin was captured by the Germans as a prisoner of war on Crete. He was interned in several German prisoner of war camps, including Stalag 18A. During his time as a prisoner, Private Martin made several attempts to escape. In September 1944, he successfully escaped and travelled to a nearby town occupied by Americans. He then returned to Australia via France and England. Private Martin was discharged on 1 September 1945.