My name is Martin Smith, I arrived in Australia on the first fleet where I played a very important role in the development of the new nation. In England I was a lieutenant of her Majesty's marine forces. I had fought for my country in wars before volunteering to travel to Australia in 1788. I was positioned to the shit “Lady Penrhyn”. We sailed from England on the 13th May 1876 to arrive in Australia 8 months later on the 26th January 1877. While on the ship it was my job to control the 102 female convicts. The journey was long and many of the convicts died due to lack of healthy food, fresh water and poor living conditions. Fortunately for me, being a Lieutenant I was provided with much better provisions I even has the opportunity to eat with the captain occasionally. When we arrived in Botany Bay Australia it was difficult to get used to the different conditions it was very hot and supplies were limited. Crops struggled to grow making farming difficult. While in Australia I assisted on navigation expeditions protecting explorers from native Australians. During this time I met the daughter of a Captain, who I married. We had three children two born in Australia and one born on the return journey to England in 1892.
