Monday, 3rd January, 1916
Sent a cable this morning to Major Whyte
to know if he can give us any particulars
& also sent one to Ernest Lambkin to say
you were now reported missing as I had
sent one a few days ago to ask him
to make enquiries in 'Alexandria' &
Cairo — Got a cable from him.
"Latest report wounded & missing
not allowed cable Salonika. Brother
officers state him slightly wounded
& probably not missing"
Went to town & saw Aunt Agnes who
said she would write to a cousin at
the Embassy at Washington to make
enquiries. Also went to Red Cross who
said they would do all the [sic: they] could to
get information.
Telegram from Wilfrid Fitzgerald
"Cox & Co are cabling to Malta &
Alexandria for news but cannot
have reply for three days. Cables
cannot be sent to Salonika — Madeline
writing to you fully. Wilfrid."
(No Reference Available)
W H Whyte
Major W H Whyte of the 6th Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers, where Charles Martin served and died. Ernest Lambkin
Close family friend of the Martins. Alexandria
An Egyptian port city on the Mediterranean coast and part of a British Mandate during this period. The port was a troop disembarkation centre for the Salonika front and a rest area for wounded soldiers. Cairo
Capital of Egypt and part of a British Mandate during this period. It was a popular rest and recuperation centre for British and Allied officers and soldiers. Salonika
Large city in Greece and disembarkation point for the ill-fated Allied attempt to aid Serbia against Germany and her ally Bulgaria. This was the nearest Allied city to where Charles Martin died. Charles Andrew Martin
Born 3 June 1895, Charles Andrew was Mary Martin's son. This diary is dedicated to him. He was reported wounded and missing in December 1915 and died of his wounds on December 8 while in Bulgarian captivity, aged 20. However it wasn't until July 1 1916 that official confirmation of his death was received. Agnes née Ross Todd Moore
Wife of Richard Martin (Uncle Dick) who was Mary Martin's brother-in-law. Embassy at Washington
The British Embassy in Washington. At this time, the US was a neutral country and as such often had quicker access to information about prisoners of war than combatant countries. Irish Red Cross
The Irish office of the International Red Cross based in Switzerland which provided supplies to prisoners of war in World War One. Through this role it was often the first point of contact for relatives of soldiers missing in action. It was also widely praised for its assistance to both sides in the Easter Rising in 1916. Wilfrid Fitzgerald
A cousin of the Martin family. Cox & Co.
Regimental agents and paymasters for the British Army. They were often a good source of information on prisoners of war. Malta
Mediterranean island south of Sicily and part of the British Empire. Marie Martin served there as a VAD from October 1915 to April 1916. Madeline Waldron
Unidentified as yet. | 
