Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Thomas Norton Rouse, a domestic groom, born 1855 in Market Overton, Rutland, and his wife Mary Ann Rouse (nee Thorold, married 1875), born 1856 in Whitwell, Rutland. Martin Herbert was born in 1894 in Market Overton, Rutland, his siblings were, Agnes, born 1887, Edith, born 1889, Tom Arthur, born 1890, Hilda, born 1892, Edward, born 1893, Daisy, born 1897 and Rupert, born 1900, all his siblings were born in Market Overton, Rutland, in March 1901 the family home was at The Rectory, Market Overton, Rutland. In April 1911 Martin was employed as a domestic groom and was residing at 1, Church Lane, Stamford, Lincs., this being the family home of his brother, John Henry Rouse, a publican and domestic groom, born 1881 in Whitwell, Rutland, and his wife Margaret Ellen Rouse (nee Bradshaw, married 1909), born 1888 in Stamford, Lincs., and their daughter Winifred, born 1910 in Stamford, Lincs. Prior to enlistment he had been employed by Sir Geoffrey Palmer, Bart., of Withcote Hall as a groom. He enlisted in the 2nd Life Guards at the age of eighteen, and on the outbreak of war proceeded to France on the 14th October 1914, later the same month he was reported “missing, believed killed.” His brother Tom Arthur also fell. On Friday March 19th 1915 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “DISTRICT WAR ITEMS.” – MARKET OVERTON’S ROLL CALL. – The following men from Market Overton are serving their King and country: - Major Wingfield, D.S.O. (Coldstream Guards), Lieut. J. Parson, M.D. (R.A.M.C.), R. Salusbury (Sussex Yeomanry), Lancelot C. W. Salusbury (Mounted Rifles, in South Africa), Hy. T. W. Salusbury (South African Defence Force), Corpl. G. Pridden (R.E.), Pte. M. Rouse (2nd Life Guards), John Kettle and Harry Kettle (in the Navy), Pte. A. Darby (Suffolk Regiment), Tom Rouse (Sherwood Foresters), Edgar Parker ( City of London Royal Fusiliers), E. Atkins, A. Jeffs, G. Clow, E. Rouse, W. Freeman, A. Preston, F. Kettle and J. H. Goodman (9th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment), C. Whittle (A.S.C.), Pte. W. Presgrave (Leicestershire Yeomanry), Pte. H. Orgill (Rutland Territorial’s), Gunner W. Freestone (R.F.A.), Driver’s T. Barrett, A. J. Woodbine and G. H. Newbolt (A.S.C.), Pte. W. Errington (Coldstream Guards). The above now number twenty eight – as good a record, according to percentage of population, as any village in the county.