Horace Robert Martineau

Horace Robert Martineau VC (31 October 1874-8 April1916) was a British 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.

Military career

Born and educated in London, Martineau enlisted in the 11th Hussars in 1891. He served in Natal and in India before buying his discharge and returning to South Africa in 1895. The next year he served in Colonel Sir Robert Baden-Powell's campaign against the Matebele, after which he joined the Cape Police.

On the outbreak of the Second Boer War in 1899, Martineau joined the Protectorate Regiment (N.W. Cape Colony) as a sergeant.

His citation [London Gazette, 6 July 1900] states that on 26 December 1899 at Game Tree, near Mafeking, South Africa, when the order to retire had been given, Sergeant Martineau rescued a corporal who had been struck down convert|10|yd from the Boer trenches. He managed to half-drag, half-carry the wounded man to a bush convert|150|yd away. In doing this Sergeant Martineau was wounded in the side, but paid no attention to it, and proceeded to staunch and bandage the wounds of his comrade, whom he afterwards assisted to retire.

The firing while they were retiring was very heavy and Sergeant Martineau was again wounded. When shot the second time he was absolutely exhausted from supporting his comrade and sank down unable to proceed farther. He received three wounds, one of which necessitated the amputation of his arm near the shoulder.

Martineau achieved the rank of Lieutenant before taking up employment with the African Boating Company, Durban. He was living in New Zealand when the First World War broke out. He immediately joined the New Zealand Otago Regiment, serving in Suez with the Transport Service of the ANZACS.

While in action at Gallipoli Martineau fell ill and was invalided home to New Zealand, where he died. He was buried at Andersons Bay Soldiers Cemetery, Dunedin. [Returned Serviceman's Area. Block 73. Lot 16. [http://www.victoriacross.org.uk/ggnewzea.htm] His name is also on the family grave at Brookwood Cemetery, Surrey, England. [http://www.tbcs.org.uk/vcs.htm] ]

Medal

Horace Martineau's VC and other campaign medals were sold at auction by Spink of London for £90,000 on 9 May 2002. The VC was bought for Lord Ashcroft's VC Collection. [ [http://www.victoriacross.org.uk/bbmartin.htm Horace Martineau Vc ] ]

References

See also

* Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
* The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
*Victoria Crosses of the Anglo-Boer War (Ian Uys, 2000)