Martin Eric Nasmith
Encyclopedia
Admiral
Sir Martin Eric Dunbar-Nasmith VC
, KCB
, KCMG
, RN
(1 April 1883 – 29 June 1965), was an English
recipient of the Victoria Cross
, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British
and Commonwealth
forces. He was born Martin Eric Nasmith, adding the "Dunbar" part of his name after World War I
.
and the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth
, Dunbar-Nasmith joined the Royal Navy
in 1898.
during World War I, when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
of the Royal Naval College Dartmouth
in 1926 and then became Rear Admiral Submarines in 1929. He became Commander-in-Chief of the East Indies Station
in 1932 and Second Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Personnel
in 1935. He was Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth
from 1938 and then Commander-in-Chief of Plymouth and Western Approaches Command
from the outbreak of war in September 1939. He served as Flag Officer in charge of London
from 1942 and retired in 1946.
In retirement he became Vice Chairman of the Imperial War Graves Commission . He was also appointed Vice-Admiral of the United Kingdom
, a ceremonial position, and he became President of the Royal Naval Benevolent Trust.
and the architect Professor Sir James Dunbar-Nasmith
) and a daughter.
|-
|-
|-
Admiral
Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet . It is usually abbreviated to "Adm" or "ADM"...
Sir Martin Eric Dunbar-Nasmith VC
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....
, KCB
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
, KCMG
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
, RN
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
(1 April 1883 – 29 June 1965), was an English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
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 and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
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. He was born Martin Eric Nasmith, adding the "Dunbar" part of his name after World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
Early career
Educated at Eastman's College in WinchesterWinchester
Winchester is a historic cathedral city and former capital city of England. It is the county town of Hampshire, in South East England. The city lies at the heart of the wider City of Winchester, a local government district, and is located at the western end of the South Downs, along the course of...
and the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth
HMS Prince of Wales (1860)
HMS Prince of Wales was one of six 121-gun screw-propelled first-rate three-decker line-of-battle ships of the Royal Navy. She was launched on 25 January 1860...
, Dunbar-Nasmith joined the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
in 1898.
World War I
He was 32 years old, and a Lieutenant-Commander in the Royal NavyRoyal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
during World War I, when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
Later naval career
He was appointed CommandantCommandant
Commandant is a senior title often given to the officer in charge of a large training establishment or academy. This usage is common in anglophone nations...
of the Royal Naval College Dartmouth
Britannia Royal Naval College
Britannia Royal Naval College is the initial officer training establishment of the Royal Navy, located on a hill overlooking Dartmouth, Devon, England. While Royal Naval officer training has taken place in the town since 1863, the buildings which are seen today were only finished in 1905, and...
in 1926 and then became Rear Admiral Submarines in 1929. He became Commander-in-Chief of the East Indies Station
East Indies Station
The East Indies Station was a formation of the British Royal Navy from 1865 to 1941.From 1831 to 1865 the East Indies and the China Station were a single command known as the East Indies and China Station...
in 1932 and Second Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Personnel
Second Sea Lord
The Second Sea Lord and Commander-in-Chief Naval Home Command , commonly just known as the Second Sea Lord , is one of the most senior admirals of the British Royal Navy , and is responsible for personnel and naval shore establishments.-History:In 1805, for the first time, specific functions were...
in 1935. He was Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth
Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth
The Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth was a senior commander of the Royal Navy for hundreds of years. Plymouth Command was a name given to the units, establishments, and staff operating under the admiral's command. In the nineteenth century the holder of the office was known as Commander-in-Chief,...
from 1938 and then Commander-in-Chief of Plymouth and Western Approaches Command
Western Approaches Command
Commander-in-Chief, Western Approaches was the commander of a major operational command of the Royal Navy during World War II. The admiral commanding, and his forces, sometimes informally known as 'Western Approaches Command,' were responsible for the safety of British shipping in the Western...
from the outbreak of war in September 1939. He served as Flag Officer in charge of London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
from 1942 and retired in 1946.
In retirement he became Vice Chairman of the Imperial War Graves Commission . He was also appointed Vice-Admiral of the United Kingdom
Vice-Admiral of the United Kingdom
The Vice-Admiral of the United Kingdom is an honorary office generally held by a senior Royal Navy admiral. Despite the title, the Vice-Admiral of the United Kingdom is usually a full admiral. He is the official deputy to the Lord High Admiral, an honorary office vested in the Sovereign from...
, a ceremonial position, and he became President of the Royal Naval Benevolent Trust.
Family
In 1920 he married Beatrix Justina Dunbar-Rivers; they had two sons (Rear-Admiral David Dunbar-NasmithDavid Dunbar-Nasmith
Rear Admiral David Arthur Dunbar-Nasmith CB DSC was a former Royal Navy officer who became Naval Secretary.-Naval career:...
and the architect Professor Sir James Dunbar-Nasmith
James Dunbar-Nasmith
Sir James Duncan Dunbar-Nasmith, CBE, RIBA, PPRIAS, is a leading conservation architect from England.He was born in 1927, son of Admiral Sir Martin Dunbar-Nasmith, VC KCB KCMG DL...
) and a daughter.
External links
|-
|-
|-