Arthur Martin-Leake
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant Colonel Arthur Martin-Leake, VC and Bar
(4 April 1874 – 22 June 1953) was an English
double recipient of the Victoria Cross
, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth
forces. Martin-Leake was the first of only three men to be awarded the VC twice.
as a trooper in the Imperial Yeomanry
. After his year service was completed he stayed on in South Africa as a civil surgeon. He then joined the South African Constabulary until he was forced to return home from his wounds.
He was 27 years old, and a surgeon captain in the South African Constabulary attached to the 5th Field Ambulance during the Second Boer War
on 8 February 1902, at Vlakfontein
when he won his first VC.
, Belgium whilst serving with the Royal Army Medical Corps
, British Army
.
His award citation reads:
He later achieved the rank of lieutenant-colonel. His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Army Medical Services Museum
, Aldershot
, England.
Martin-Leake is buried in St John's Church, High Cross, Hertfordshire. He is commemorated with a plaque and a tree at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire.
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
(4 April 1874 – 22 June 1953) was an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
double recipient of the Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
forces. Martin-Leake was the first of only three men to be awarded the VC twice.
Boer War VC
Martin-Leake first went served in the Second Boer WarSecond Boer War
The Second Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between the British Empire and the Afrikaans-speaking Dutch settlers of two independent Boer republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State...
as a trooper in the Imperial Yeomanry
Imperial Yeomanry
The Imperial Yeomanry was a British volunteer cavalry regiment that mainly saw action during the Second Boer War. Officially created on 24 December 1899, the regiment was based on members of standing Yeomanry regiments, but also contained a large contingent of mid-upper class English volunteers. In...
. After his year service was completed he stayed on in South Africa as a civil surgeon. He then joined the South African Constabulary until he was forced to return home from his wounds.
He was 27 years old, and a surgeon captain in the South African Constabulary attached to the 5th Field Ambulance during the Second Boer War
Second Boer War
The Second Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between the British Empire and the Afrikaans-speaking Dutch settlers of two independent Boer republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State...
on 8 February 1902, at Vlakfontein
Vlakfontein
Vlakfontein is a small settlement in the Mpumalanga Province of South Africa. During the Second Boer War it was the site of a guerrilla action against the British forces where a Victoria Cross was awarded to William John English of the Scottish Horse for conspicuous gallantry....
when he won his first VC.
World War I VC
He won his second VC during the period 29 October to 8 November 1914 near ZonnebekeZonnebeke
Zonnebeke is a municipality located in the Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the villages of Beselare, Geluveld, Passendale, Zandvoorde and Zonnebeke proper. On January 1, 2006 Zonnebeke had a total population of 11,758...
, Belgium whilst serving with the Royal Army Medical Corps
Royal Army Medical Corps
The Royal Army Medical Corps is a specialist corps in the British Army which provides medical services to all British Army personnel and their families in war and in peace...
, British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
.
His award citation reads:
He later achieved the rank of lieutenant-colonel. His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Army Medical Services Museum
Army Medical Services Museum
The Army Medical Services Museum is located in the Defence Medical Services Training Centre, Keogh Barracks, on Mytchett Place Road, Mytchett, Surrey, England. It moved into its present building in 1982...
, Aldershot
Aldershot
Aldershot is a town in the English county of Hampshire, located on heathland about southwest of London. The town is administered by Rushmoor Borough Council...
, England.
Martin-Leake is buried in St John's Church, High Cross, Hertfordshire. He is commemorated with a plaque and a tree at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire.
Other holders of the VC and bar
- Captain Noel Godfrey ChavasseNoel Godfrey ChavasseCaptain Noel Godfrey Chavasse VC & Bar, MC was a British medical doctor and British Army officer who is one of only three people to be awarded a Victoria Cross twice....
of the Royal Army Medical Corps received the VC for tending wounded soldiers under fire on 9 August 1916, at Guillemont, FranceBattle of GuillemontThe Battle of Guillemont was a British assault on the German-held village of Guillemont during the 1916 Battle of the Somme. Guillemont lay on the right flank of the British sector where it linked with French forces and by holding it, the Germans prevented the Allied armies from operating in...
. The Bar was received posthumously for a rescuing and tending the wounded during the period 31 July to 2 August 1917, at Wieltje, Belgium; he died of wounds sustained at the beginning of the period. - Captain Charles UphamCharles UphamCaptain Charles Hazlitt Upham VC and Bar was a New Zealand soldier who earned the Victoria Cross twice during the Second World War: in Crete in May 1941, and at Ruweisat Ridge, Egypt, in July 1942...
of the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force (NZEF) Canterbury Battalion, for actions during the Battle of CreteBattle of CreteThe Battle of Crete was a battle during World War II on the Greek island of Crete. It began on the morning of 20 May 1941, when Nazi Germany launched an airborne invasion of Crete under the code-name Unternehmen Merkur...
in May 1941; his Bar as a captain during First Battle of El AlameinFirst Battle of El AlameinThe First Battle of El Alamein was a battle of the Western Desert Campaign of the Second World War, fought between Axis forces of the Panzer Army Africa commanded by Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, and Allied forces The First Battle of El Alamein (1–27 July 1942) was a battle of the Western Desert...
in July 1942.
External links
- Location of grave and VC medal (Hertfordshire)
- Find a grave profile