Baldwin & Sons
Auction 106 15 Sep 2022
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The Outstanding Ox & Bucks Light Infantry, Burma Campaign, Casualty, Military Cross and Bar awarded to Captain Clifford Frederick Victor Martin, 6th Battalion Ox & Bucks Light Infantry attached 10th Baluch Regiment comprising Military Cross, GVIR, officially dated (1944), 2nd Award Bar, officially dated (1944), 1939‑45 Star, Burma Star, 1939‑45 Defence Medal, 1939‑45 War Medal, all unnamed as issued, contemporarily mounted for wear, toned very fine. (5).
Military Cross London Gazette 18th of May 1944.
Bar to the Military Cross London Gazette 5th of October 1944.
Military Cross.
Lieutenant (temporary Captain) Clifford Frederick Victor Martin The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (attd. 10th Baluch Regiment).
On the 26th of January 1944, the enemy put in a persistent attack from 1745 hours to 1830 hours, which was repulsed with heavy losses. At 2300 hours the enemy again attacked with even more determination but was again driven back. During both these attacks, Captain Martin ran from post to post in the open, directing the fire and encouraging the men, regardless of his personal safety.
Throughout the 27th and the 28th, the enemy sent frequent harassing parties to wear down our defences and to prevent our men from sleeping. On the 29th of January, our position was again very heavily attacked, this time by two enemy companies, from 0530 hours to 1030 hours. Although the position was thinly held, our casualties equivalent to one platoon, and the men tired through three sleepless nights, the enemy was driven back time and again with very heavy losses estimated at 200 killed and wounded.
Although completely without sleep during these four days, Captain Martin went from trench to trench, encouraging the men and urging them to hold on, despite close range grenade, small arms and very heavy mortar fire. When the enemy broke through the wire and threatened to swamp the defences, he personally organised and led a counterattack which, by determined hand to hand fighting wiped out all the enemy who had broken in.
Captain Martin's splendid example of personal gallantry and leadership in the face of heavy odds, his spirit of endurance and determination to hold out, inspired all ranks to resist at all costs, over a period of four days, a persistent enemy attempt to capture a position of extreme tactical significance.
Bar to the Military Cross.
Lieutenant (temporary Captain), Clifford Frederick Victor Martin M.C. The Oxfordshire and
Buckinghamshire Light Infantry.
On the morning of the 26th of May 1944, Captain Martin was leading a Company taking part in the
attack on Red Hill.
In the initial stages of this attack Captain Martin was wounded, leading his Company under heavy Medium Machine‑Gun fire, on to the objective, but, ignoring his wounds, Captain Martin personally led a grenade‑throwing party to wipe out a Japanese Bunker, which was holding up the advance of his Company.
With complete disregard for his own safety and despite his wounds, Captain Martin approached the bunker, the occupants of which had been catching our grenades and throwing them back. By waiting 3 seconds after the cap of the grenade had been struck before he threw it, Captain Martin succeeded in wiping out the bunker and thereby clearing the way for the advance. In doing this, Captain Martin was again wounded, but continued to lead his Company forward until he collapsed from loss of blood.
Captain Martin's magnificent example of gallantry and selfless devotion to duty under heavy fire was not only a supreme inspiration to every man in the Company, but a vital contributory factor in the success of the attack.
Sold with original citations for the MC and Bar, original War Office Telegrams from the War office to his parents notifying both awards, an original letter congratulating Captain Martin signed by Field Marshal William Joseph Slim, 1st Viscount Slim, KG, GCB, GCMG, GCVO, GBE, DSO, MC, KStJ, Buckingham Place award letter. Military Cross box of issue which contains a contemporary set of miniature medals and a small wooden frame containing Captain Martin's father's miniature medal group awarded to Victor Martin comprising 1914 Star and clasp, 1914‑1920 British War and Victory Medals, 1939‑45 Defence Medal, Special Constabulary Long Service Medal GVIR. A cased Vintners Company Medal, silver, Birmingham 1939, by William James Dingley (Clifford F.V. Martin 18th June 1941).
Military Cross London Gazette 18th of May 1944.
Bar to the Military Cross London Gazette 5th of October 1944.
Military Cross.
Lieutenant (temporary Captain) Clifford Frederick Victor Martin The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (attd. 10th Baluch Regiment).
On the 26th of January 1944, the enemy put in a persistent attack from 1745 hours to 1830 hours, which was repulsed with heavy losses. At 2300 hours the enemy again attacked with even more determination but was again driven back. During both these attacks, Captain Martin ran from post to post in the open, directing the fire and encouraging the men, regardless of his personal safety.
Throughout the 27th and the 28th, the enemy sent frequent harassing parties to wear down our defences and to prevent our men from sleeping. On the 29th of January, our position was again very heavily attacked, this time by two enemy companies, from 0530 hours to 1030 hours. Although the position was thinly held, our casualties equivalent to one platoon, and the men tired through three sleepless nights, the enemy was driven back time and again with very heavy losses estimated at 200 killed and wounded.
Although completely without sleep during these four days, Captain Martin went from trench to trench, encouraging the men and urging them to hold on, despite close range grenade, small arms and very heavy mortar fire. When the enemy broke through the wire and threatened to swamp the defences, he personally organised and led a counterattack which, by determined hand to hand fighting wiped out all the enemy who had broken in.
Captain Martin's splendid example of personal gallantry and leadership in the face of heavy odds, his spirit of endurance and determination to hold out, inspired all ranks to resist at all costs, over a period of four days, a persistent enemy attempt to capture a position of extreme tactical significance.
Bar to the Military Cross.
Lieutenant (temporary Captain), Clifford Frederick Victor Martin M.C. The Oxfordshire and
Buckinghamshire Light Infantry.
On the morning of the 26th of May 1944, Captain Martin was leading a Company taking part in the
attack on Red Hill.
In the initial stages of this attack Captain Martin was wounded, leading his Company under heavy Medium Machine‑Gun fire, on to the objective, but, ignoring his wounds, Captain Martin personally led a grenade‑throwing party to wipe out a Japanese Bunker, which was holding up the advance of his Company.
With complete disregard for his own safety and despite his wounds, Captain Martin approached the bunker, the occupants of which had been catching our grenades and throwing them back. By waiting 3 seconds after the cap of the grenade had been struck before he threw it, Captain Martin succeeded in wiping out the bunker and thereby clearing the way for the advance. In doing this, Captain Martin was again wounded, but continued to lead his Company forward until he collapsed from loss of blood.
Captain Martin's magnificent example of gallantry and selfless devotion to duty under heavy fire was not only a supreme inspiration to every man in the Company, but a vital contributory factor in the success of the attack.
Sold with original citations for the MC and Bar, original War Office Telegrams from the War office to his parents notifying both awards, an original letter congratulating Captain Martin signed by Field Marshal William Joseph Slim, 1st Viscount Slim, KG, GCB, GCMG, GCVO, GBE, DSO, MC, KStJ, Buckingham Place award letter. Military Cross box of issue which contains a contemporary set of miniature medals and a small wooden frame containing Captain Martin's father's miniature medal group awarded to Victor Martin comprising 1914 Star and clasp, 1914‑1920 British War and Victory Medals, 1939‑45 Defence Medal, Special Constabulary Long Service Medal GVIR. A cased Vintners Company Medal, silver, Birmingham 1939, by William James Dingley (Clifford F.V. Martin 18th June 1941).