MARTIN, James Edward

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Known as: 
Slinger
Rank: 
Major
Unit / Base: 
3 Commando
Regiment/Corps: 
Pioneer Corps
Service: 
Army
Service Number: 
131024
Honours & Awards: 
Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)
Operations: 
'Vaagso - Operation Archery'
Dieppe - Operation Jubilee
‘Sicily - Operation Husky’
Termoli - Operation Devon
Normandy - Operation Overlord
Major James Martin No 3 Commando
James Edward 'Slinger' Martin joined No.3 Commando on 5 March 1941 as their Administrative Officer. A veteran of the First World War he had served as a Trooper with the 9th Lancers, and after WW1 he was posted to the 16th Lancers attaining the rank of Regimental Sergeant Major.
  • 15 May 1940 the former RSM Martin was commissioned Lt (Quartermaster) in the Pioneer Corps. (Source: London Gazette 34877, page 3772.)
  • 5 March 1941 taken on strength No.3 Commando (Source: No.3 Commando War Diary Field Return of Officers 7 Aug.'43.)
  • Appointed MBE for gallant and distinguished service in NW Europe. (Source: London Gazette 37302, page 4994.)
  • 22 September 1949 relinquished his commission with the War Substantive rank of Captain on enlistment into the TA. (Source: London Gazette 38805, page 101.)
Extract from Commando Association Newsletter 44 (March 1967). 
"We are grateful to Brigadier Peter Young, D.S.O., M.C., M.A., F.S.A., and our President, Lt.Colonel Peter Bartholomew, D.S.O., for their permission to print extracts from their joint appreciation of the late Major James Edward Martin, M.B.E., for several years a member of the Association General Committee.
'Slinger' Martin began his military career in the 9th Lancers. He went out to France as a very young trooper in 1915, saw a good deal of fighting, much hardship, and, though wounded, came through still bent on a military career. After the war, he greatly distinguished himself as a roughrider, and as Army Champion in the sword, Iance and pistol event at Olympia.
Commissioned early in the War, he joined No. 3 Commando as Administrative Officer in that first difficult winter of hope-deferred. His cheerful and efficient presence did much to dispel the prevailing gloom. Quartermasters are a strange race, so some think, but 'Slinger', as a good- cavalryman should, showed himself 'ready for anything', even change. How it fell to his lot to storm, with a couple of stouthearted storemen, a house at Vaagso, is not quite clear; but as, Lord Lovat once said "In a Commando everyone comes under starter's orders".
On D-Day, 'Slinger' went in with our first flight - not many men with 1914-18 medals up can have hit the beach at 'H'+90, and No. 3 will always recall the glorious moment when at the head of his jeep-convoy he burst through to Angoville, where the First Commando Brigade was sitting somewhat precariously in the German second line. No award gave more pleasure to his many friends than Slinger's M.B.E. We have lost the best and truest of comrades. All our sympathy goes out to his widow."
 
Photo of Commando in Gallery: 
Yes
Archive pages : 
No 3 Commando

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