Trumpter Nicholas Henry Martin, Isandlwana survivor

I've recently looked into locating the grave of Isandlwana survivor Nicholas Martin RA who survived Isandlwana aged just 16, and have been given the following information:

Nicholas Henry Martin of 121 Bloomsbury St. Nechells Birmingham was buried 24th January 1912 age 49yrs at St James the Less Ashted.


The church of St James the Less no longer stands. It was almost completely destroyed by German bombs during World War 2 and remained in ruins until 1956 when it was demolished.

However, a number of the gravestones have been preserved and laid flat in an area of public open space at the top of Barrack Street.

Regards,

Tim

Nicholas Henry Martin enlisted with the Royal Artillery on 24 July 1875 aged twelve and a half years. He was 4ft. 6inches tall.

His papers record he was at Isandlwana and also served in the Transvaal (1st Boer War) where he won the DCM at the Seige of Pochefstroom, "Having assisted under very heavy fire to convey a woman and a man back into the Fort at Pochefstroom".

He married Amelia Borie on 7 April 1885 in Coventry and was by that time a Sergeant. They had five children by 1893 - by then he was promoted to Quartermaster Sergeant. He was discharged in 1896 and became Barrack Warden in the Cavalry Barracks at Aston, Birmingham. Here they are in the 1911 census, the year before he died. Worthy of a memorial I think.

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Steve

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"The church of ST. JAMES THE LESS, Ashted, was founded in 1789, when Dr. John Ash's house was converted into a chapel after his departure from Birmingham. The chapel was opened for divine service in 1791, and was consecrated in 1810. It was originally a proprietary chapel owned by a Mr. Brooks, and later by a Dr. Crofts, and in 1810 it was vested in four trustees for 60 years. The incumbent was styled a perpetual curate, but there was no endowment and all expenses, including the support of the minister, were met by the seatholders. In 1853 a parish was formed out of Aston; in 1859 began a series of grants by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners to endow the living, which became a vicarage in 1868. In 1881 the patronage was transferred to the Aston Trustees, and the living was further endowed with £40 out of the revenues of Aston. The net annual income of the vicarage in 1953 was £397. Until 1830 it seems that none of the seats in the church was free. In that year the seating arrangements were altered so as to provide 150 free seats for the poorer inhabitants of the heavily populated hamlet of Ashted. Enlargement of the church in 1835 made another 850 free seats available. Towards the end of the century efforts were made to improve the proportion of the number of seats in Anglican churches to the number of inhabitants: a mission room to hold 100 was built in 1882, and in 1889 a mission room was opened in Dollman Street (later known as St. John's Mission) in a building designed to serve as the transept of a possible subsequent church. This mission has been licensed for public worship since 1908. Another mission, in Lawley Street, later known as St. Peter's, was opened in 1896 and licensed from 1908 until the Second World War. 
The church of St. James, in Barrack Street and Great Brook Street, was a converted 18th-century house, a plain rectangular building of brick, with a semi-circular projection on one side surmounted by a turret with cupola. It was lengthened by about half its original length in 1835, and was restored in 1887–9. It was seriously damaged during the Second World War, and was demolished c. 1956. The registers begin in 1810". 
Source:Birmingham Forum.

Tim, are you thinking of a memorial plaque.

Well done Tim , Steve & Littlehand .
90th

Photo removed
Trumpeter N.H. Martin (active 1879) DCM, Royal Artillery. Received DCM from Queen Victoria 8 December 1882 for gallantry at Potchefstrom c.1878-9

Provenance
In the Collection of Queen Victoria

Outstanding Andy
90th

Hl All,
A bit more on N H Martin RA. Born circa 1863 Alderney Channel Islands, He married Amelia BONE at Midhurst 7 April 1885 [service papers] she was born 1863 Weat Meon Hampshire. They had 5 kids one Frederick died just 3 days old in Ipswich. He died 19 Jan 1912 at 121 Bloomsbury St Nechell's Birmingham which was also his 1911 census address. According to his Probate £230 was left to the eldest two children. There is no mention of his wife, she appears on the 1911 census but cannot find any death for her before the Probate in 1912.
Kids Amelia b.1886 Midhurst, Harry J b.1887 Woolwich, Elsie R b.1983 Colchester, Reginald b.1896 Coventry and Frederick b + d 1891 Ipswich.
He was attested 25 July 1875 age 12 and 6 months, to 2nd Depot Brigade, to 24 brigade 1 Dec 1876, which became 5th brigade. Started as Boy to Trumpeter 2 Oct 1877, final rank was Quartermaster Sgt. To S Africa 9 Jan 1878 to 31 jan 1882, all other service was in the UK being discharged 23 July 1896 in Coventry. serving 21 yrs.
He was in Kingswilliamstown on 11 feb 1878 and Natal 3 sept 1878.
His service papers state Isandlwana, and Siege of Potchefstroom for which he received the D.C.M.
Medals SA Medal bar 1877-8-9, D.C.M, LSGC.
Rai Keynshamlighthorse.

For forum members' information. It should be noted that the photo is part of the Royal Archive at Windsor and may not be reproduced without its permission. I purchased a copy of the photo back in the 1980s and used it with permission for my N/5 article in soldiers of the Queen. The Royal Archive will pursue breaches of its copyright.