Martin, Benjamin Clarence (Clarence)

Clarence Martin was born at Kintore in 1897 and was the son of Joseph H. and Mary Elizabeth (nee Cooper) Martin.  Clarence joined the 110th (Perth) Canadian Infantry Battalion on March 4, 1916.  He arrived in France April 4, 1917 with twenty-four reinforcements to the 58th Battalion for the Battle of Vimy Ridge.  On April 11th while drawing enemy fire in no-man's-land he suffered a serious bullet wound, causing a compound fracture of his right femur.  After eight hours he was able to crawl back to his lines, but wasn't evacuated for treatment until the following morning.  He spent the remainder of the war in hospital, not being discharged from the army until March 9, 1920.  On April 26, 1923 he married Gladys Rene Mossey. They farmed 190 acres on the Mitchell Road near Science Hill, Blanchard Township from this time until 1941. They then bought a farm on the South Boundary of Blanchard Township, between Queen Street and James Street (now owned by the cement plant - 1958). They raised 4 children, Douglas 1925, June 1927, Betty 1929 and Jack 1931. In 2013 only Betty is surviving.

Upon their retirement Clarence and Gladys resided a short time in Exeter and then moved to Peel Street, St. Marys, Ontario.  

 Information provided by Clarence's grandson and gleaned from Kevin R. Shackleton's book "Second To None", The Fighting 58th Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force, 2002.