Family group

A Great War ‘Western Front’ D.C.M. and Bar group of four awarded to Corporal L. E. Martin, Royal Field Artillery

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R., with Second Award Bar (49092 Cpl. 87/BY. 2/Bde. R.F.A.); 1914 Star (49092 Gnr., R.F.A.); British War and Victory Medals (49092 Cpl., R.A.)

Three: Bombardier F. B. Martin, Royal Field Artillery

Burma Star; Defence and War Medals, all unnamed, mounted as worn, nearly very fine and better (7) £2500-3000

D.C.M. London Gazette 3 September 1918. ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during an enemy attack. Though early wounded, he remained with the battery under heavy fire all day, and after all the officers and serjeants had been wounded or killed, he commanded the battery until an officer from another battery arrived. He behaved splendidly’.

Bar to D.C.M. London Gazette 2 December 1919. ‘’During an attack on the morning of the 14th October, 1918, near Ledeghem, the battery was subject to heavy enemy artillery and machine gun fire. He was acting as No. 1 of his gun, and when the rest of his detachment had been wounded, and though wounded himself, he continued to man his gun single-handed for a considerable time. Not till after the barrage was finished would he leave his gun to have his wounds dressed. Throughout recent operations he showed the greatest gallantry, and set a fine example to his men.’

Leonard Edward Martin was born in 1889. Living in Brighton, he enlisted into the Royal Field Artillery at Woolwich on 3 December 1907. For his great bravery during the Great War he was awarded the D.C.M. and Bar. Corporal Martin was discharged from the Army on 2 December 1919. Sold with original discharge certificate (repaired); D.C.M. and Bar citations (mounted on card), and H.Q. Second Army Certificate of Congratulations for the award of the Bar to the D.C.M. (mounted on card).

Frederick Bertram Martin was born in Brighton, Sussex, on 12 January 1923. An Electrical Engineer by occupation, he enlisted at Gravesend, for the duration of hostilities, on 3 December 1942. Serving in Burma towards the end of the war, he was discharged as a Bombardier in the 21st Field Regiment R.A. in April 1947. In 1951 he was accepted for a commission with the Army Cadet Force in the East Lancashire Area. Sold with Soldier’s Release Book; Soldier’s Service and Pay Book; Certificate of Transfer to the Army Reserve, and four other papers.