Donovan, Martin Joseph
173A Lance Corporal Martin Joseph Donovan - 11th Battalion AIF
Martin Joseph Donovan was born in Gladstone Tasmania on the 6th March 1894 to Edward and Christina Donovan. He was one of eight siblings born into the family, with, Alice 1888, Edward 1891, Sarah 1896, Ethel 1898, James 1900, Cedric 1907 and Maurice 1910.
After his birth the family moved to Victoria and by the mid 1900's were in WA living at Day Dawn. They then moved to Fremantle in 1910, living in Canning Road East Fremantle.
Martin completed his schooling in Fremantle and during this time also served as a Cadet in the 86A Cadets of the Citizens Military Forces and then "B" Company of the 86th Infantry Regiment.
Sadly, Martin's Father Edward died in Fremantle on the 11th April 1915.
Martin was working as a storeman for Robert Harper & Co Ltd, and was living at the family home in Canning Road East Fremantle.
Martin had tried to enlist earlier in 1915 but was rejected due to a foot injury. He tried again on the 30th December 1915 and this time was successful. The medical examiner found him fit for service and recorded his physical attributes as;
Height - 5 feet 2 & 3/4 inches;
Weight - 107lbs;
Chest Measurement - 32-25 inches;
Complexion - Fresh;
Eyes - Grey;
Hair - Dark Brown.
After his successful enlistment Martin was sent to Claremont Showgrounds Camp and was assigned to No.41 Training Depot. On the 1st February 1916 he was transferred into "A" Company of the 44th Battalion AIF.
Martin trained with this group in Claremont WA until the end of May 1916. Orders then came through for their departure from WA and on the 6th June 1916 they boarded the H.M.A.T. “Suevic” in Fremantle Harbour and set sail for overseas, arriving at Plymouth England on the 21st July 1916.
After being disembarked the 44th Battalion were sent to the 3rd Division Training area on the Salisbury Plains. Martin began training with his unit but in September 1916 the 3rd Division were asked to send men to the four Australian divisions then in France as reinforcements.
Martin volunteered to be sent to France, and on the 16th September 1916 was told he would be going to the 11th Battalion AIF. The following day Martin arrived at Etaples in France and was sent to the 1st Australian Division Base Depot, He spent over a week here and then joined the 11th Battalion on the 29th September 1916.
The 11th Battalion were then in Belgium but soon returned to the Somme battlefield in France. The Somme battlefield was a muddy morass and the 11th Battalion arrived back there in October 1916. They were in the line near Flers and Delville Wood. On the 9th November 1916 Martin was sent to the 2nd Field Ambulance suffering from trench feet. On the 11th November 1916 he was then sent to the 1st General Hospital at Etretat. He spent twelve days there receiving treatment and on the 23rd November 1916 was transferred to England.
Martin was at the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Dartford from the 24th November 1916 to the 24th January 1917. He was then transferred to No.1 Command Depot Camp at Perham Downs. On the 6th February 1917 Martin was sent to No.4 Command Depot Camp at Perham Downs. He would remain here while regaining his full fitness.
On the 23rd March 1917 Martin was transferred to a newly created unit, the 70th Battalion of the 6th Australian Division. This unit was being formed in England from reinforcements and men returning from medical care. The unit was short lived as not enough reinforcements were available to form a full division. Though it meant that Martin was kept in England from March to September 1917 when the 70th Battalion was training.
When the 6th Division was disbanded, the men were returned to their original units. On the 9th October 1917 Martin returned to France and rejoined the 11th battalion on the 16th October 1917. The 11th Battalion were then holding the line in Belgium near Passchendaele.
From November 1917 to March 1918, the 11th Battalion held the front line in the sector between Messines and Ypres Belgium. As a result of the German offensive of March 21st 1918 when they broke through the British front in the southern sector, the five Australian divisions were sent to the Somme to help stop this advance. The 11th Battalion, as part of the 1st Australian Division was the last of the divisions to leave Belgium and had just arrived near Amiens when the Germans broke through the line in Belgium and made a speedy advance into northern France. The 1st Australian Division was then returned north and met the Germans around Hazebrouck, Meteren and Merris and for the next few months were in action here.
In early August 1918 the 11th Battalion was moved south to Villers-Bretonneux where they would take part in the large advance that was due to take place on August 8th 1918.
The 11th Battalion didn't take part in the first day of the advance but went into the line on the 9th August 1918 and on the following day attacked the German positions at Lihons. The Germans had well entrenched positions and unleashed a heavy machine gun fire on the advancing men of the 11th Battalion. Many of the 11th Battalion were killed and wounded by this fire but Martin had survived the action.
On the 15th August 1918 Martin was promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal. A week later on the 23rd August 1918 Martin was wounded at Chuignolles by a German gas shell. He was not hit by the shrapnel but suffered from gas poisoning. After a few days in hospital in France he was sent to England.
Martin was then admitted to the 1st Southern General Hospital in Birmingham. He recovered well and on the 13th September 1918 was granted a two week furlough. After this leave period was over Martin reported into No.4 Command Depot Camp at Hurdcott.
He remained in England till the 30th October 1918 and then returned to France and rejoined the 11th Battalion on the 3rd November 1918. The following week the Armistice was announced on the 11th November 1918.
Once the Germans withdrew to behind their own borders, the Australians were sent into what had been German occupied parts of Belgium and France. Martin remained with the 11th Battalion till April 1919 when he returned to England. He would now wait to be assigned a berth on a troopship home.
On the 12th May 1919 Martin boarded the transport ship Soudan and set sail for Australia, reaching Fremantle on the 21st June 1919.
Martin was then discharged from the AIF on the 5th August 1919.
After the war he returned to the family home in East Fremantle. In 1922 they were living at Preston Point Road and Martin was working as a Packer. The family then moved to Irwin Street East Fremantle before residing at 7 Holland Street and then Jackson Street North Fremantle.
In 1939 in Fremantle Martin married Maisie Mary Euginie Kelly Moore
Martin enlisted again into the Australian Army during World War Two. He signed up on the 21st October 1940 at Naval Base Rockingham. He was accepted as fit for service and was given the service number W29599. After initial service at the Naval Base in Rockingham, Martin was sent to the 3rd Training Battalion at Northam Army Camp. He was on duty at Northam and then Claremont through 1941 to 1944.
Martin was discharged from the Army in October 1944.
He then returned to his work as a packer/storeman and Martin and Mary then moved to 148 South Terrace Fremantle (Now 142 South Terrace)
His mother died in Fremantle in 1947.
Martin died in Perth on the 17th January 1961 aged 66. He was buried in Karrakatta Cemetery plot Roman Catholic MA 0341.