Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War D.S.O. and Bar group of three awarded to Brigadier-General C. T. Martin, Highland Light Infantry, who was killed in action in France on the first day of the Third Battle of the Aisne in May 1918, whilst commanding 151st Infantry Brigade

Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., with Second Award Bar, complete with top suspension bar in its Garrard & Co. Ltd case of issue; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Cape Colony, Wittebergen (Lieut. C. T. Martin. 1/High. L.I.); King's South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (Lt. C. T. Martin. High. L.I.) together with Bronze Memorial Plaque (Cuthbert Thomas Martin) the Boer War medals with light edge bruising and contact marks, very fine, otherwise extremely fine (4) £1400-1800

D.S.O. London Gazette 4 June 1917: ‘For distinguished service in the field - Major (Acting Lieutenant-Colonel) Highland Light Infantry.’

Bar to D.S.O. London Gazette 16 September 1918: ‘Cuthbert Thomas Martin, Major and Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel (Temporary Brigadier-General), Highland Light Infantry. For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. This officer commanded his brigade with great energy and ability through four days of fighting against vastly superior numbers of the enemy on a very extended front. Largely by his personal example the fighting value of the brigade was maintained when they had very heavy casualties and were very tired.’

Cuthbert Thomas Martin was born in India in December 1877, third son of Sir Acquin and Lady Martin. His father Sir Thomas Acquin Martin, was involved in engineering, large building and infrastructure projects in India and was influential in Afghanistan. Cuthbert Martin was educated at Beaumont College and was commissioned into the Highland Light Infantry from the Militia in September 1897. He served in the Cretan Rebellion in 1898 and in the South African War from 1899 to 1902. He went with his regiment to France in August 1914, took part in the retreat from Mons and was severely wounded in action on the river Aisne. In 1916 he returned to France as second-in-command of a service battalion of the Highland Light Infantry, and almost immediately was given command of his old regular battalion. He was awarded the D.S.O. for distinguished service in the field. In October 1917, he was appointed to command the 151st Brigade and in the following April received a bar to his D.S.O. for conspicuous gallantry as detailed in his citation.

The history of his division records his final moments on 27 May 1918: ‘At 7 am. he [Brigadier-General Riddell] was at 151st Brigade Headquarters with Brigadier-General Martin, of the latter Brigade, when the enemy was reported close at hand. As the Brigadiers hurriedly left the dug-out they found themselves almost surrounded. As they began to fight their way though, the Germans were scattered by a salvo of their own shells, but one, however, unfortunately burst overhead and General Martin was instantly killed and General Riddell wounded.’

In a letter written nearly seventeen years later, Mr A. L. B. Childe, who had served with the 5th Battalion Durham Light Infantry, which was a battalion of the 151st Brigade, writing of the Battle of the Aisne in 1918, said: ‘Lieutenant Williams went with the Sergeant Major to reconnoitre the wood to our rear (i.e. between the sunken road where we were and the road running East-West meeting the road due South through Chaudardes, about 150 yards away). While retiring to the sunken road we were surprised to find our Brigadier lying dead.’

He has no known grave and is remembered on the Soissons Memorial. He married Maree in 1914, who later, in 1923, married Captain W. T. F. Holland, A.F.C., late 21st Lancers and R.A.F. See Lot 1207 for Holland’s Great War medals.