The son of Harold C. and L. Pearl Martin. Enlists in Chatham as a Lieutenant in the Kent Regt, listing Chatham as his place of birth and was living in London, ON.

On the 20th of August 1944, heavy counter attacks were beaten off as the desperate Germans attempted to force their way past the Canadians. Knowing that they were about to be surrounded, thousands of German soldiers were fleeing through a narror escape route betweem the towns of Chambois and Turn.

On 18 August 1944, “B” Company of the Argylls consisting of fifty five men, commanded by Major Martin was placed under command of “C” Squadron of The South Alberta Regiment (SAR) which was commanded by Major Dave Currie, Major Currie would be later awarded the Victoria Cross. This composite group was tasked to close the road running through St. Lambert Sur Dives which was the main German escape route between the towns of Chambois and Trun. They had the dangerous task of clearing pockets of  Germans from each house along the road. Besides the German infantry there was also a Tiger tank and a Panther tank in support of the Grerman infantry. A small group of Argylls led by Lieut. Gil Armour, Ptes. W. F. Cooper and  J. LaForrest armed with a PIAT attacked and destroyed the Panther. The Tiger tank withdrew and by mid-morning the the village was cleared.

In the early morning of 19 August 1944, “B” Company and “C” Squadron attacked St. Lambert and cleared half of the town and consolidated in the centre having insufficient troops to clear the rest. The fighting was vicious with German tanks being destroyed at close range with grenades and PIATs. Company Sergeant Major George Mitchell and Private MR Holmes distinguished themselves by rescuing the driver of a burning SAR tank while under fire. The Argylls suffered 6 wounded that day. “C” Company of the Argylls joined the force in St. Lambert at 1900 hours (7:00 PM).

During the actions around the Battle of the Falaise Gap in particular St. Lambert Sur Dives, on 18 August, to prevent the German retreat major Martin went alone and on foot on two separate occasions over a day and a half to call down artillery fire on the Germans. He was successful in this action with the tiny battle group to keep the pocket closed. “By all accounts a courageous soldier”, (LM) lost his life to a German artillery shell.

Curator’s Note: More information concerning Ivan H. Matin appeared in Mark Zuehlke book, “Breakout From Juno ( First Canadian Army and the Normandy Campaign, July 4 – August 21, 1944)

“ Under the command of Major David Currie at 1800 hours on August 18, the South Alberta Regiment’s “C” Squadron (tanks) had left Saint-Lambert-sur-Dives and then Chambois. Fifty-five men of ‘B’ Company, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders rode on the tanks.”

“At 0500 hous on August 19 Currie had set his stuborn sights on Saint-Lambert. ‘C’Squadron and the Argylls’ “B’ CompanyDecendes through open fields toward the village. Technically a Lieutenant, Martin had been raise to the rank of acting Major due to the severe officer casualty rates during the past two weeks.”

While taking this village they encountered a Greman Mark IV and a Tiger tank. The Mark IV was destroyed leaving only the formidable Tiger still lurking in the neighborhooh. Major Martin  that the Argylls’ would continue alone and in the process attacked and destroyed a Panther tank.   

The Argylls’ would meet up with the South Alberta tanks and the Polish Tanks.    

 Major Martin would be fired on by a German 88 millimeter self-propelled gun before he made contact with the tanks but he was able to call in artillery fire but the shell fell wide of the target. Martin then took a wireless set and, according to his subsequent citation… “Went forward alone … to a position from which he could direct the artillery and neutralized the enemy gun”.

After reaching Saint-Lambert both Currie and Martin were worried about the Polish tanks. “Both moved out Ceaselessly, encouraging the men. Whe a German machine gun started blazing away, Martin asked a private in a slit trench to help him eliminate it. “Your kidding od course.” The man replied. Martin headed out with a Sten gun. After a long burst of gun fire he returned with a shouldered MG-42 (machinegun). Moments later, Maertin and fellow Argyll Lieutenant Albini Dalpe were killed by an 88-millimeter round.”   

Thousands of Germans were trying to flee down the road through St. Lambert. Major Ivan Martin, Officer Commanding “B” Company went forward on foot alone twice to call down artillery fire on German self propelled guns. It was during this action while Major Martin was meeting with Major Currie, Lieut. Al Dalphe acting as interpreture and a captured German doctor who was trying to get aid for his caputered German troops, just after Major Currie was called back to his tank that a 88mm HE hit the group killing both Canadian officers. After the battle, he was awarded an American Distinguished Service Cross.

Curator Note: Because Major Martin did not receive the only posthumous Commonwealt Award, the Victoria Cross, Martin’s heroism went unrecognized until the United States bestowed on him the Distinguished Service Cross:

The Distinguished Service Cross is awarded to a person who, while serving in any capacity with the Army, distinguishes himself or herself by extraordinary heroism not justifying the award of a Medal of Honor; while engaged in an action against an enemy of the Unites States; while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing/foreign force; or while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing Armed Force in which the United States is not a belligerent party. The act or acts of heroism must have been so notable and have involved risk of life so extraordinary as to set the individual apart from his or her comrades.

Major Ivan Harold Martin was the first Canadian to receive this award.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Awards	American Distinguished Service Cross
Sources	Legion Magazine “Liberating Normandy”.
Supplemental Information	Age: 32, DOW, Date of Death: 21/08/1944.. On the 20th of August 1944, heavy counter attacks were beaten off as the desperate Germans attempted to force their way past the Canadians. Additional information: Distinguished Cross (U.S.A.). Son of Harold C. and L. Pearl Martin; husband of Annette Joyce Martin, of Toronto, Ontario. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead, Grave/Memorial Reference: XVIII. C. 13. Cemetery: BRETTEVILLE-SUR-LAIZE CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY.

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