Private William Martin was born in about 1794, in East Bridgeford, Nottingham. He enlisted into the 45th (Nottinghamshire) Regiment of Foot on the 15th of June 1815, when aged 21 years. He was a labourer by trade.  

William served in the East Indies between 1825 and 1829. This included in the First Burma War (1824-26). 

In 1824, war was declared against Burma, on the 5th of March, after (in the words of Wylly from the regimental history (Colonel Wylly, History of the 1st and 2nd Battalions The Sherwood Foresters Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment (1740-1914), (1929))); “a Burmese general invaded [India] between Burma and Bengal, conquered Assam and Manipore, threatened Cachar, and, invading British territory, actually captured a party of Indian sepoys. The Burmese general then began to levy taxes on British boats trading on the river forming the boundary between Arakan and Chittagong, and finally, landing an armed party on the island at the mouth of the river, killed and wounded six of the British garrison.”  

The 45th were ordered to embark towards Burma in 1825, due to the large number of soldiers suffering from illness in the region. This was, however, called off due to the sheer numbers suffering from Cholera in the hot season in March. The regiment set out yet again and reached the scene of the hostilities, having traversed through jungle, shortly before peace was agreed at Vandabo, in February 1826. The regiment were subsequently awarded the battle honour ‘Ava’, for their part. 

William was discharged soon after, on the 9th of December 1829, due to Hepatitis and Dysentery. His conduct was recorded as good. William received his pension whilst living in Nottingham.