With Football on Your Minds – A Poppy Story from a member of the Webteam

Can I knit – not so.

Can I crochet – not so.

That said, I am making a single poppy (however rudimentary) in memory of my Grandfather, Private James Martin, who fought in The Great War.

James Martin was born in 1893 in the colliery cottages known as 'Miller Pit Cottages', in the Parish of Bo'ness and Carriden; an area rich in coal and situated on the south bank of the Firth of Forth. Like his father before him, James went down the mines. He was aged 21 at the start of The Great War and newly married to Agnes Johnston.

James Martin was not to remain in the mines, however, since his footballing talent had been 'spotted' whilst playing for both Bo'ness and Armadale Football Clubs and which was followed by a move to the Heart of Midlothian Football Club ('Hearts') in the west of Edinburgh.

Frivolous activities such as football matches, however, were frowned upon during The Great War. An ongoing public debate took place as to whether it was appropriate for professional football to continue whilst young soldiers were dying on the front line. Between August and November 1914, sixteen Hearts players enlisted to fight in The Great War; the first British team to sign up en masse. The war claimed the lives of seven of the Hearts players who had enlisted, with several others returning so severely wounded that they were unable to play football again.

My grandfather, Private James Martin, was a Rifleman with the Royal Scots. He was wounded twice in the Dardanelles Campaign on the Gallipoli Peninsula. He is remembered on the Heart of Midlothian Roll of Honour. The Football Club holds two Rolls of Honour, one which remembers those that died in the conflict and one which lists those who survived but returned home wounded. His name appears on the latter list.

The Hearts football team was decimated during the hostilities. The manager, John McCartney moved south and poached many of the Club's surviving players, my grandfather being one such player whom he signed for Portsmouth in November 1920. Having lost an entire part of one hand during the conflict, the footballing career of James Martin was not impacted upon since he played a left half-back position (described by McCartney as 'my ideal half-back'). James Martin went on to Captain Portsmouth Football Club in the 1920s and made 213 League Appearances for the Club and 26 Cup Appearances.

Completed poppies for the 'Armistice Wall of Poppies Project' should be delivered to any WI member or to the WI President, Sue Gamble at 14 Barnfield, off Covert Rise, 01829 772659