Private Thomas Warnock Martin (13014671) served in the Pioneer Corps during World War Two. He was the youngest son of Alexander Thompson Martin and Jane Martin of 35 Heatherbell Street, Belfast, Co. Down.
He married Mary Brown of Belfast, Co. Antrim and the couple had a daughter Margaret Martin in 1929. The Northern Whig newspaper reported Private Martin was a prisoner of war, having previously been missing. He had also been a prisoner of war during World War One when serving at the Battle of the Somme with the Royal Irish Rifles. In total, he had spent 6 years in captivity.
World War Two
Private Martin rejoined the army in 1940 and in May that year was captured in Boulogne, France. During his time as a prisoner in the last war, he had learned to speak German. He acted as an interpreter in the prisoner of war camp in Germany.
While a prisoner of war in World War Two, Martin contracted tuberculosis. On his return to Northern Ireland in October 1943, he spent several months in hospital. He died at 48 Kimberley Street, Belfast, Co. Antrim on 25th May 1944 aged 47 years old.
Thomas Warnock Martin’s grave is in Glenalina Extension, Section Z, Grave 402 of Belfast City Cemetery, Belfast, Co. Antrim.