Cyril Gordon Martin
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Cyril Gordon Martin (19 December 1891-14 August 1980)(VC, CBE, DSO) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
He was 23 years old, and a Lieutenant in the 56th Field Coy., Corps of Royal Engineers, British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 12 March 1915 at Spanbroek Molen, Belgium, Lieutenant Martin volunteered to lead a small bombing party against a section of the enemy trenches which was holding up the advance. Before he started he was wounded, but, taking no notice, he carried on with the attack which was completely successful. He and his small party held the trench against all counter-attacks for two and a half hours until a general withdrawal was ordered.
He later achieved the rank of Brigadier.
His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Royal Engineers Museum (Chatham, England).
[edit] References
- Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
- The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
- The Sapper VCs (Gerald Napier, 1998)
- VCs of the First World War - The Western Front 1915 (Peter F. Batchelor & Christopher Matson, 1999)
[edit] External Links
- Royal Engineers Museum Sappers VCs
