Cyril Gordon Martin
Lieutenant, 56th Field Company Royal Engineers
- Register No.
- 840 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Lieutenant all Lieutenants →
- Unit
- 56th Field Company Royal Engineers (register: Corps of Royal Engineers) all Corps of Royal Engineers VCs →
- Date of action
- 12 March 1915 on this day → all of 1915 →
- Conflict / campaign
- First World War
- Born
- 19th December 1891 at Foochow, China
- Died
- 14th August 1980 at Woolwich in London
- Memorial / grave
- not known
Digest of citation
A section of the enemy trenches was holding up the advance at Spanbroek, Belgian, on 12th March 1915. Lieutenant Martin volunteered to lead a bombing party against the trench. He was wounded before the actual start of the attack, but ignoring this, he continued to lead the attack which was completely successful. They held the trench against several counter-attacks for two-and-half hours. Then a general withdrawal order was given. Not until then did they return to their own lines
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
MARTIN, Cyril Gordon. (reg No. 840).
Lieutenant. 56th Field Company Royal Engineers. The London Gazetted on 19th April, 1915.
Born on 19th December 1891 at Foochow, China.
Died on 14th August 1980 at Woolwich in London.
Memorial not known.
Digest of Citation reads: A section of the enemy trenches was holding up the advance at Spanbroek, Belgian, on 12th March 1915. Lieutenant Martin volunteered to lead a bombing party against the trench. He was wounded before the actual start of the attack, but ignoring this, he continued to lead the attack which was completely successful. They held the trench against several counter-attacks for two-and-half hours. Then a general withdrawal order was given. Not until then did they return to their own lines.
Additional information:. Brigadier Martin was made a Companion Of the Order of the British Empire (CBE). He also held the Distinguished Service Order (DSO). With the Northern Command in India in 1939 he was the Deputy Chief Engineer. He served in Iraq in 1941 as Chief Engineer, British troops. From 1945-47 he was Chief Engineer with the North-West Army, India. During this time he was also ADC to King George VI.
Additional information
Brigadier Martin was made a Companion Of the Order of the British Empire (CBE). He also held the Distinguished Service Order (DSO). With the Northern Command in India in 1939 he was the Deputy Chief Engineer. He served in Iraq in 1941 as Chief Engineer, British troops. From 1945-47 he was Chief Engineer with the North-West Army, India. During this time he was also ADC to King George VI.
The London Gazetted on 19th April, 1915.
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Alf recorded the memorial as: not known
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