De Ruvigny Roll of Honour Vol 2 page 221
Menin Gate Memorial
John Kingsley Lunn Martin was born 23rd July 1884, at Sunderland, and was the third son of the Reverend Canon Henry Martin, Vicar of Kelloe, Coxhoe, formerly vicar of Stockton-On-Tees. He was educated at Cathedral School, Llanduff, and then the Grammar School at Stockton-On-Tees.
He was a practising solicitor for a few years in Stockton. He joined the Stockton Volunteer Corps (now the 5th [Territorial] Battalion Durham Light Infantry) in 1906. He became a Captain before going to the West Indies.
In December 1912, the Colonial Office appointed him to the Clerkship of the Island of Montserrat, where he also filled other important posts, and was acting Stipendiary Magistrate.
On the outbreak of war in August 1914, he was gazetted to the 6th South Lancashire Regiment in September. The Colonial Office, however, refused him permission to leave Montserrat, but made him Commandant of the Island Defence Force, which he organised and trained until December 1914. By this time, the danger of invasion from German Cruisers had past. He was allowed to return to the UK.
On his return he was gazetted to the 10th Battalion Durham Light Infantry on the 4th of January 1915. He was sent to France with the British Expeditionary Force and was killed in action on the 1st of August at Hooge.
He was killed by an explosion of bombs caused by a bursting shell.
He was buried in Sanctuary Wood.
He was a good sportsman, being a particularly fine swimmer, and was secretary of the Stockton Hockey Club, and played for Durham County. He was well known as an amateur singer, and took the tenor solos at the Parish Church. In connection with which he did useful work, was an active member as secretary or hon, solicitor of many religious and philanthropic institutions, and was also superintendent of one of the Parish Church Sunday School.
De Ruvigny Roll of Honour
Rev. David Youngson has supplied the following:
Captain John Kingsley Lunn MARTIN
Durham Light Infantry
10th (Service) Battalion
The third son of the late Revd Canon Henry Martin, formerly Vicar of Stockton-on-Tees and Rector of Kelloe, County Durham and Mrs. Martin of Stockton-on-Tees. He was born at Sunderland on the 23rd July 1884. He was educated at the Cathedral School, Llandaff, Wales and Stockton-on-Tees Grammar School. A Solicitor Admitted June 1906 he practised in Stockton-on-Tees and was a keen swimmer and hockey player being the Secretary of Stockton Hockey Club and played for Durham County. During his time in Stockton he was a well known amateur singer and was involved with several religious and philanthropic institutions. In December 1912 he was appointed by the Colonial Office as the Clerk to the Island of Montserrat and was acting stipendiary magistrate. In 1906 he joined the Stockton Volunteer Corp which became the 5th (Territorial) Battalion, Durham Light Infantry; Commissioned 2nd Lieutenant (London Gazette 17th November 1908) and was a Captain prior to December 1912. In September 1914 he was Gazetted to the 6th South Lancashire Regiment. The Colonial Office refused to give him permission to leave the Island of Montserrat and he was made Commandant of the Island Defence Force. Returning to England he was Gazetted to the 10th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry on the 4th January 1915 and was killed in action during the Battle at Hooge, Belgium on the 1st August 1915 aged 31. He is Remembered on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, West- Vlaanderen, Belgium, Panel 36 and 38. His name appears in the Book of Remembrance situated in the DLI Chapel at Durham Cathedral and in the Book of Remembrance in Stockton Parish Church.
NB Some records indicate that he was buried in the vicinity of Sanctuary Wood.
He is remembered in Stockton on S138.15, S138.18 page 38 and on S138.61 and in Durham on D.L.I. Book of Remembrance page 199
