The Port Fairy veteran returned to Germany after the war to try to find her, and said he would have married her had his search been successful. 

“Her name was Martha Hermann,” Mr Martin said. “I even remember the address now, Camp Street, eight.

“I had a good relationship with her. I would have married her if there was no bloody war.”

The Australian Merchant Navyman recalled being on board a ship that was sunk by submarines. 

“We were the first of the Aussies in enemy action in 1939,” he said.

“We knew the submarines were everywhere in the Irish sea. I said to my friend ‘we’ll get caught for certain’ and we did. The submarine came up and shelled us.” 

All 14 people survived but in another attack, his cousins weren’t so lucky.

“My cousin Peter Watson got blown to pieces. He was the captain’s runner. 

“My brother Garry (Martin) and I were lucky. My brother was a good soldier he won the military medal in New Guinea.”

Mr Martin said he felt fortunate he and his brother could return home. 

“I feel lucky for sure to have all our family here. I’m lucky to be alive now. I didn’t think I’d make it to (almost) 103.”

When Mr Martin laid his wreath in Port Fairy on Anzac Day, the crowd applauded.

"This is for 25,000 merchant sailors, men and women, who have no grave but the sea," Mr Martin said to the crowd. 

More than 400 people gathered at Port Fairy's Reardon Theatre to pay their respects on Anzac Day and marched to the Railway Place War Memorial where more people joined them.

Port Fairy Consolidated, St Patrick's Primary School and Brauer College gave their interpretation of war, while the Port Fairy Citizens band performed. 

Vietnam veteran Doug Nolte led the service.

"It makes us diggers proud to see the community support on this day, Mr Nolte said. "This day is about community respect for all the people who fought for this country."