MARTIN, Cecil Hampson
Captain East Lancashire Regiment
Born
June 1894.
The eldest son of Temporary Captain Archibald McNeil Martin of Stanwell, Westward Ho!, North Devon (who saw service in Salonica) and his wife, Anne Carter Martin.
Education
Blundell's School, “Petergate” from the age of 14yrs;
September 1908 – Summer 1912.
He was in the first teams of cricket, football and hockey. He was also in the football team at Sandhurst where he was a sergeant.
Service
He was wounded in November 1914 and made temporary captain of his regiment in June 1915, then gassed in September 1915 whilst making a “most gallant attempt to rescue his colonel [who was] unconscious from gas in a deep dugout”. He was promoted Captain in March 1916.
Trench Diary
The Xth Bn. East Lancashire Regiment were part of 110th Brigade, 21st Division. In reserve at Souastre with 37th Division on 1st July 1916 and first saw action during the night of 10th July at Fricourt.
Death
2nd October 1916, aged 22.
He was killed by an aerial dart. His captain wrote of him “A most gallant and capable officer, and his loss is deeply regretted by his brother officers and men”.
Burial/Commemoration
Grave V. E. 7.
Vermelles British Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France.
Memorial
Vermelles is a village 10 kilometres north-west of Lens. The cemetery was begun in August 1915, and during the Battle of Loos, when the Chateau was used as a dressing station, Plot I was completed. It was laid out and fenced by the Pioneers of the 1st Gloucesters, and known for a long time as "Gloucester Graveyard". The remaining Plots were made by the Divisions holding the line 1.6 kilometres East of the cemetery until April 1917. From April 1917 until the Armistice the cemetery was closed; but after the Armistice graves were brought in (to Plots II, IV and VI) from the battlefields to the East. The cemetery grounds and memorial were designed by Sir Herbert Baker.
Research
Commonwealth War Graves Commission - www.cwgc.org
The Blundellian, Nov 1916 p 259
The National Archives, Public Records Office, Kew WO 339/9344
“The Register of Blundell's School, Part II 1882 – 1932” (1932) MAHOOD, A.S., Ed. Entry No.5281
Cemeteries & Memorials in Belgium & Northern France (2004) Commonwealth War Graves Commission. 13/296