"An inquest regarding the death of a returned soldier named Sydney Martin, aged 44 years, who died at the Auckland Hospital on Tuesday night from an injury to the throat, was held before Mr. E. C. Cutten, S.M., yesterday afternoon. Evidence was given that deceased had been in a very despondent state of mind since his return from the front. On Tuesday last he took no food at tea time, and shortly afterwards went to his room. At about 9.30 pm. a moaning sound was heard from the back yard, and on investigating deceased to found with a wound in his throat, bleeding profusely. A verdict of felo de se, while in a state of despondency, due to shell shock, was returned by the coroner. The late soldier was a member of the Seventh Reinforcements, and had only returned back from the front in January last. He will be accorded a military funeral at Waikumete cemetery". [Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 69, 21 March 1918, Page 4]

His service record shows that he had been diagnosed with Tuberculosis.