Arthur Martin-Leake

Arthur Martin-Leake
Born	4 April 1874 High Cross, Hertfordshire, England
Died	22 June 1953 (aged 79) High Cross
Buried at	High Cross Church
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army
Years of service	1899 - 1902, 1914 - 1918
Rank	Lieutenant Colonel
Unit	Imperial Yeomanry South African Constabulary Royal Army Medical Corps
Battles/wars	Second Boer War World War I
Awards	Victoria Cross and Bar

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.

Boer War VC

Martin-Leake first served in the Second Boer War 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.

During the action at Vlakfontein, on the 8th February, 1902, Surgeon-Captain Martin-Leake went up to a wounded man, and attended to him under a heavy fire from about 40 Boers at 100 yards range. He then went to the assistance of a wounded Officer, and, whilst trying to place him in a comfortable position, was shot three times, but would not give in till he rolled over thoroughly exhausted. All the eight men at this point were wounded, and while they were lying on the Veldt, Surgeon-Captain Martin-Leake refused water till every one else had been served.

World War I VC

He won his second VC during the period 29 October to 8 November 1914 near Zonnebeke, Belgium whilst serving with the Royal Army Medical Corps, British Army.

His award citation reads:

Lieutenant Arthur Martin Leake, Royal Army Medical Corps, who was awarded the Victoria Cross on 13th May, 1902, is granted, a Clasp for conspicuous bravery in the present campaign: — For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty throughout the campaign, especially during the period 29th October to 8th November, 1914, near Zonnebeke, in rescuing, whilst exposed to constant fire, a large number of the wounded who were lying close to the enemy's trenches.

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.

Memorial service at High Cross, Hertfordshire, for Martin-Leake, 2002. Major C.D.V. Bonfield, RAMC, Mrs Sybil Martin-Leake, Mr Hugh Martin-Leake, Major Charles Monk and Trumpeter C/Sergeant Gardner, The Royal Anglian Regiment.

Other holders of the VC and bar

• Captain Noel Godfrey Chavasse of the Royal Army Medical Corps received the VC for tending wounded soldiers under fire on 9 August 1916, at Guillemont, France. 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 Upham of the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force (NZEF) Canterbury Battalion, for actions during the Battle of Crete in May 1941; his Bar as a captain during First Battle of El Alamein in July 1942.

References

• Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
• The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
• VCs of the First World War (Gerald Gliddon, 1994)
• Victoria Crosses of the Anglo-Boer War (Ian Uys, 2000)

External links

• Location of grave and VC medal (Hertfordshire)
• Find a grave profile