Captain Martin MC was a decorated Tank Commander from the First World War.
Unusually he came to Auxiliary Units from SOE. He had been recruited for his maritime skills, having brought his own boat, the Norwegian-built "Risor". Originally planned to be taken to West Africa, instead he took her to the West Coast of Scotland and he became a para-naval instructor. Eventually SOE decided his services were no longer required, too old for overseas service with SOE and reluctant to return to the Wiltshire Regiment, where the men he had trained in 1939 were now senior to him in rank. Appealing to Gubbins, he was found a posting as an Auxiliary Units Intelligence Officer.
His Grandson, Professor Stephen Downes-Martin of the US Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island contacted The Shetland Bus
The professor wrote: “I have a letter dated 3rd July 1942 ‘for’ [on behalf of] Commanding Officer H.M.S. St. Christopher to my Grandfather requesting that any assistance required by my Grandfather be provided by Naval Officers in charge of Naval Ports. The letter refers to his Yacht Risor. At the time my Grandfather was smuggling people into and out of Nazi held Norway. Family tradition has it that he would attach himself to the Norwegian fishing fleet under darkness or fog and slide into Norway to pick up or drop off people, and then home the same way. His full name was John Mulgrave Martin although he was also known as John Mulgrave Downes-Martin.”
The confidential letter was written by the Commanding Officer of HMS St Christopher certifying that any assistance should be given to Mr J M Martin and his yacht which was flying the civilian red ensign even though it was ‘on Admiralty Service’.
| Unit or location | Role | Posted from | until |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bishops Lydeard, Somerset | Intelligence Officer | 01 Apr 1944 | 22 Sep 1944 |
| Somerset | Intelligence Officer | 01 Apr 1944 | 22 Sep 1944 |
The Grange, Folkstone, Kent
Rugby School, Warwickshire
Engineer later farmer
10 May 1912 Rugby School Officer Training Corps. Commissioned Probationary Lieutenant 5th Battalion, The Royal Irish Rifles, cancelled 14 June 1912.
29 Dec 1914 - Cadet, Royal Military College, Sandhurst
12 May 1915 - 2nd Lieutenant, posted to Wiltshire Regiment, 3rd Battalion, Weymouth
June 1915 - Proceeded to France ?? Battalion, France
1915 - served in Belgium
25 July 1916 - ??? France
1 Aug 1916 - Returned to England
13 Oct 1916 - Joined 3rd Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment, Weymouth
3 Nov 1916 - Returned British Expeditionary Force, France
22 Dec 1916 - Seconded to Heavy Branch, Machine Gun Corps, for duty with D Battalion in the field. Appointed Temp Captain
18 July 1917 Awarded Military Cross. For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He rendered most valuable service when commanding a Tank. He gained all his objectives and cleared up several enemy strong points, which were holding up the infantry advance.
26 July 1917 - Relinquishes Temp Captain
4 Sept 1917 London Gazette; The citation reads; Lieutenant Martin, John Mulgrave, D Battalion. Awarded M.C. During the action on Hindenburg Line on April 9th 1917, did excellent work with his tank, gaining all his objectives, and again on April 13th cleared up several strong points which were holding the infantry up. On April 23rd whilst acting as a section commander, he guided his tanks personally under a severe barrage to within a few feet of our front line to ensure their success.
10 Oct 1917 to 20 Oct 1917 - Granted leave to UK
23 Oct 1917 - Re-joined from leave, in the field
1917 - Tank Corps, Mark I, Berm?o?rt
1917 - Tank Corps, Mark IV, Hailly
1917 - Lewis machine gun, ?
1918 - Tank Corps, Mark V, La?trico?
17 Feb 1918 to 3 March 1918 - Granted leave to UK
6 March 1918 - Re-joined from leave, in the field
13 Oct 1918 - HQ Tank Corps to proceed to UK for ?
17 Oct 1918 - To UK
1 Nov 1918 - Attached 24th Battalion, Tank Corps
16 Nov 1918 - Posted to Depot, Tank Corps
13 July 1920 - Resigns commission
13 July 1920 - To be Captain, General reserve of Officers
15 Oct 1939 - Ordered to join Infantry Training Centre. Joined Infantry Training Centre the Wiltshire Regt, found medically fit for HS(C) Devizes.
14 Nov 1939 - Attached Royal Army Ordnance Corps for duty, Hilsea
12 Dec 1939 - Lieutenant, Infantry Training Centre
10 April 1940 - Posted to 6th Pioneer Battalion, Kings Own Royal Regiment, Drill, Kings Lynn, Norfolk
23 April 1940 - Posted to Infantry Training Centre, Wiltshire Regiment, Devizes
7 Sept 1940 - Acting / Major, Home
15 Oct 1940 - Relinquishes acting rank, Home
To report to Inter Service Research Bureau, Horse Guards, SW 1
1 Aug 1941 - Struck of strength, of Infantry Training Centre, Wiltshire Regiment, for Captain Inter Service Research Bureau, and ceases to be paid from Army funds.
5 Aug 1941 - To be specially employed with Inter Service Research Bureau, War Office Army pay and ?
3 Aug 1941 – 30 Sept 1943 SOE Arisaig, Special Training School (Scotland) as Para-Naval Instructor.
His SOE file from The National Archives reference HS9/996/6
15 Jan 1943 - Ceases to be specially employed and is entitled to renumeration from Army funds (all crossed out).
1 Feb 1943 - Transferred from STS HQ to Mo?sg
10 Sept 1943 - Ceases to be specially employed and is entitled to renumeration from Army funds. Posted to 3 Infantry Depot, Southend on Sea
30 Sept 1943 - Ceases to be specially employed and is entitled to renumeration from Army funds. Posted to No 3 Infantry Depot. Relinquishes Temp Captain, on posting to (3 Infantry Depot)
3 Oct 1943 - Posting to 3 Infantry Depot, cancelled. The notification WOO 40 / 43 is cancelled
11 Nov 1943 - Posted to 15 Infantry Training Centre, from 3 Infantry Depot,
19 March 1944 - Attached HQ Aux Units with a view to appointment as Captain IO
8 April 1944 - Posted – HQ Aux units as IO
22 Sept 1944 Left Somerset Aux Units
11 Oct 1944 - Posted to 3 Infantry Depot, amended to 15 Infantry Training Centre
18 June 1945 - Deferment of release for period DUI
24 July 1945 - Acting Major
14 Sept 1945 - To be Temp Major
19 July 1946 - Deferment of release until General Demob approved
24 Jan 1947 - Relinquishes his Commission (age limit)
14 Feb 1947 - Granted Honorary rank of Major
His redacted service record is here.
He was awarded the Military Cross, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Allied Victory Medal, 1939-45 War Medal, 1939-43 Star, Defence Medal and possibly Atlantic Star, although this could be crossed through on his record.
Born in Killoskehane Castle, Templemore near Dublin in Ireland to Edward Downes Martin and his wife Ellen (nee Irwin) his full surname was Downes-Martin and he married Canadian, Margaret Ramsey Stein 7 April 1926 in Cannes.
He worked as an engineer for Vickers Ltd in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria and later was a Farmer.
He is buried in Hadleigh in Suffolk.
TNA HS9/996/6
Grandson Professor Stephen Downes-Martin
The Tank Museum, Bovingdon, Dorset
Service record via Chris Perry