Great War Royal Marine Artillery Gunner’s Battle of Jutland and subsequent Q-Ship operations long service group awarded to Gunner R. Martin, Royal Marine Artillery and Royal Fleet Reserve. Martin from Newport, Monmouthshire, was mobilised with the war, and was aboard the battleship Erin at the Battle of Jutland on 31 May 1916, and the subsequent inconclusive Action of 19th August 1916. He joined the Defensively Armed Merchant Ships from December 1917, and was with the Q-Ship Lavatera at the end of the war.
Group of 4: 1914-1915 Star; (R.M.A. 4942. GR. R. MARTIN.); British War Medal and Victory Medal; (R.M.A. 4942 GR. R. MARTIN.); Royal Fleet Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, GVRV Adm. bust; (R.M.A. 4942 PO.A.40821 R. MARTIN. MNE. R.F.R.)
Condition: Good Very Fine or better.
Richard Martin was born on 31 December 1873 in Newport, Monmouthshire, Wales, and having worked as an engineer skilled labourer, then enlisted into the Royal Marines as a Private with the Depot at Walme on 31 August 1893, and in October of that year was posted for artillery training, before joining as a Gunner 2nd Class (No.4942) the Royal Marine Artillery on 24 April 1894, and being ranked as a Gunner from 17 August 1894. He saw service afloat and ashore through to the outbreak of the Great War, when he was a member of the Royal Fleet Reserve, and he appears to have been awarded the Royal Fleet Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in September 1914, his reservists number being PO.A.40821 as a member of the Portsmouth Division.
With the Great War he found himself mobilised and aboard the battleship Erin, and as such fought with her during the Battle of Jutland on 31 May 1916, and the subsequent inconclusive Action of 19th August 1916. He was posted off her in August 1917, and then joined President III for service aboard Defensively Armed Merchant Ships from 7 December 1917. He remained so employed until September 1918, and from 18 October 1918 was confirmed aboard the converted drifter and Q-Ship Lavatera remained with her until late December 1918. Martin died on 5 June 1959.
