Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Bandmaster James Martin, Worcestershire Regiment, late Gloucestershire Regiment

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (3709 Cpl. J. Martin, Gloucester Regt.); Army L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (11714 Sjt: Dmr: J. Martin. Worc. Regt.); Territorial Efficiency Medal, G.V.R. (5243590 Sjt. J. Martin. 8-Worc. R.) edge bruising and contact marks, otherwise nearly very fine or better (3) £400-500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Awards to the Worcestershire Regiment formed by Group Captain J. E. Barker.

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James Martin was born in Islington, London, on 14 October 1877. He enlisted as a Boy Musician into the Gloucestershire Regiment at Hounslow on 3 October 1892, and served in Ireland before being posted to the 2nd Battalion of that regiment overseas. After service in India and Aden he returned to England with the Battalion. Serving then in the South African War, he held the Queen’s Medal, but his being invalided home caused him to miss the award of the King’s Medal. He transferred to the Worcestershire Regiment in 1909 as Sergeant Drummer and acted as Band Master at the Depot at Norton Barracks, completing his Regular Service in 1919.

He then took up employment in a civilian capacity at Norton Barracks, but it was not long before he was appointed Band Master of the 8th Battalion and served as such until 1938. He then held the Territorial Efficiency and Long Service and Good Conduct Medals. However, his musical career did not finish with his leaving the 8th Battalion. He will be remembered by the Worcester Royal Grammar School for his training of their Cadet Band and also by the Air Training Corps. He started the local Squadron Band and continued to teach music to the Cadets until his eightieth birthday. He was intensely interested in the boys and their after-careers. He loved his county and was devoted to the Regiment which he served so faithfully for so many years. He was closely associated with Brigadier B. C. S. Clarke in starting the Annual Regimental Reunion after the 1914-18 war. Bandmaster James “Peg” Martin died in the Worcester Royal Infirmary on 17 October 1959, aged 83. (Obituary from the regimental journal Firm refers)

Sold with comprehensive research including a great number of extracts relating to his career as Band Master taken from the regimental journal Firm.