Sergeant William Higgs MARTIN, DCM
5th Battalion Royal Irish Lancers 3161

William Higgs Martin 1892-1950
William was born in Spratton on 9th April 1892 the son of Joseph Martin, a farm labourer, timber carter and later a milkman, and his wife, Elizabeth (née Bromwich). The Martins were a long established family in Spratton who had lived in Manor Road and then Station Road (now Brixworth Road). Five brothers in Joseph and Elizabeth’s family served in the First World War – Harry, Joseph, George, William and Walter. In 1901 the family was living at Calendar Farm, Cottesbrooke and on leaving school William became a groom at Cottesbrooke Hall. On 28 December 1910 aged 18 he joined the Royal Irish Lancers, known as the Lancers of the Line. He was in the cavalry and spent time in Ireland before war was declared in August 1914 when he was posted immediately to France
He enjoyed life in the army and was promoted to Corporal in 1915 and then to Sergeant in April 1916. He took part in all the major battles the 5th Lancers were engaged in and was wounded at Ypres in 1915 and on the Somme in 1916.
On 31 January 1917, whilst home on leave, he married Mary Byrne at the Roman Catholic Cathedral in Westminster. Later that year, when he returned to the Front his bravery earned him the Distinguished Conduct Medal:
8 July 1917 Citation 3161 London Gazette: Conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in rallying the remnants of his troop and encouraging them to continue fighting. When ordered to retire, he remained to the last, and was for some time alone in the trench with the enemy but succeeded in getting away after covering the retirement of his men.
In March 1918 he was seriously wounded in the leg. A bullet through the thigh severed his sciatic nerve so that he had no use in his foot. He was captured by the Germans on 26 March 1918 and was sent to Prison of War camps in Clogny, Guise and Laugensaiza in Saxony. He wrote an interesting account of the treatment he received as a prisoner. He was repatriated to hospital in England on 24 October 1918 but never fully recovered from his injuries. He was discharged as permanently unfit on 20 January 1920. As well as the Distinguished Conduct Medal, William was awarded the 1914 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
William returned to Spratton to live with his wife and children and was active as a coach in the village boxing club, despite his wounded leg. He died in 1950 aged 58 and is buried in the old parish cemetery in Spratton with his wife Mary.
An account of William Martin’s time as a Prisoner of War can be found in
‘The Harp and Crown – the History of the 5th (Royal Irish) Lancers 1902-1922’ by Ciaran Byrne

The grave of William Higgs Martin and his wife, Mary, in the old parish cemetery in Spratton

The grave of William Higgs Martin and his wife, Mary, in the old parish cemetery in Spratton

Distinguished Conduct Medal

Distinguished Conduct Medal
EXPLORE SECTIONS
MEN WHO SERVED
- Private Charles Herbert AUSTIN (known as Herbert)
- Corporal Frank AUSTIN
- Lance Corporal James William AUSTIN
- Private John Samuel AUSTIN
- Sergeant William Henry AUSTIN
- Sergeant Bertie Henry BALDERSON
- Corporal Frederick Charles BALDERSON MM
- Lance Corporal Robert Samuel BALDERSON
- Private George William BUCKBY (known as William)
- Private Henry Andrew BUCKBY
- Richard Henry Horne BUCKBY
- Transport Sergeant Thomas BUCKBY MM
- Company Quartermaster Sergeant William Gander BUCKBY
- William Archibald COPSON (known as Archibald)
- Sapper Ebenezer COPSON
- Private Ernest Edward COPSON
- Pioneer Henry Owman COPSON (known as Harry)
- Private James COPSON
- Private John William COPSON
- Private Joseph COPSON
- Private Arthur Sidney GOODEN (known as Sidney)
- Private Hugh Henry GOODEN
- Sergeant Joseph Eric GOODEN (known as Eric)
- Private Arthur Thomas HAYTER
- Driver Frank Leonard HAYTER
- Private Harold Herbert HAYTER
- Lance Corporal John Charles HAYTER DCM (known as Jack)
- Private Walter Ernest HAYTER
- Ordinary Seaman Arthur Charles HORNE
- Private John William HORNE (known as William)
- Lance Corporal Lewis HORNE
- Private Thomas HORNE
- Driver John Henry LEESON
- Corporal Joseph Henry LEESON (known as Harry)
- Thomas Baden Powell LEESON (known as ‘Bard’)
- Private Albert MANNING
- Corporal Amos MANNING
- Private Arthur Cecil MANNING
- Private George MANNING
- Sergeant George William MANNING
- Sapper Henry Stanley MANNING (known as Stanley)
- Private John Thomas MANNING
- Private John William MANNING
- Air Mechanic Nathaniel MANNING
- Driver/Saddler Samuel MANNING
- Gunner George Albert MARTIN
- Private Joseph MARTIN
- Private Thomas Henry MARTIN (known as Harry)
- Private Thomas Walter MARTIN (known as Walter)
- Pioneer Walter Ernest MARTIN
- Sergeant William Higgs MARTIN, DCM
- Private Arthur Walter PAGE
- Private Francis Samuel PAGE (known as Sam)
- Private Frank PAGE
- Private Stephen PAGE
- Lieutenant George REEVE MC MM
- Private Richard Henry REEVE (known as Harry)
- Private Samuel REEVE
- Private Sidney Philip REEVE
- Private Frederick Thomas RICHARDSON
- Private John William RICHARDSON
- Private Percy John Partridge RICHARDSON
- Private Abraham Bert SMITH
- Private Alfred SMITH
- Private Frank SMITH 46648
- Private John Samuel SMITH
- Private John William SMITH (6942)
- Private John William (William John) SMITH (8964)
- Private Charles Walter WADHAMS
- Private John Edward WADHAMS
- Private Thomas Edwin WADHAMS
- Private William WADHAMS