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Auction: 23002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 50

A well-documented campaign group of three awarded to Lieutenant H. H. Marten, Manchester Regiment, an Australian who was killed by a sniper on 13 August 1915

1914-15 Star (2.Lieut: H. H. Marten. K. R. Rif: C.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Lieut. H. H. Marten.); Great War Bronze Memorial Plaque (Henry Humphrey Marten), extremely fine (4)

M.I.D. London Gazette 31 May 1915.

Henry Humphrey Marten was born on 2 March 1894, the son of Dr Humphrey Marten M.D., Cambridge, 12 North Terrace, Adelaide, Australia. Educated at St. Peter's College Adelaide, the young Marten was then sent to the U.K. to complete his education, firstly at Cheltenham College and then proceeding to Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge. Still at University when war broke out he immediately offered his services and duly received a commission as 2nd Lieutenant in the 6th (Reserve) Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps in August 1914.

Entering the war in France from 23 November 1914, he was mentioned in Sir John French's Despatch of the 31st May 1915, for his services while attached to the 2nd Manchester Regiment. Afterwards transferring to join to join that unit, he was subsequently promoted Lieutenant with them. Marten was inspecting wire entanglements at the time he was killed by a sniper on the 13 August 1915, while in temporary command of a company of his battalion and was buried in Cerisy-Gailly Military Cemetery, France. He would have been gazetted to the rank of Captain a few days later if he had not been killed. His medals were claimed by his mother in January 1922 and were sent to the family home in Australia. Sold together with an archive comprising:

(i)
Memorial Scroll.

(ii)
Mentioned in Despatches certificate.

(iii)
Slip for Great War medals dated 3 March 1922.

(iv)
Warrant for Second Lieutenant dated 10 August 1914 for the K.R.R.C.

(v)
The War Graves of the British Empire France 699-700.

(vi)
Telegrams dated 16 and 19 August 1915 confirming his death.

(vii)
Newspaper cutting from the Times of 24 August 1915.

(viii)
Letter from the War Office dated 15 November 1915 confirming burial in the Marie Court Military Cemetery.

(ix)
K.R.R.C. Memorial Service and Unveiling Ceremony Programme 24 May 1922.

(x)
Details relating to the Henry Humphrey Marten Prize.

(xi)
Photograph of the recipient in a civilian suit.

(xii)
Letter from the Imperial War Graves Commission, dated 10 October 1928.

(xiii)
Baptism Certificate.

(xiv)
A K.R.R.C. cap badge, a Manchester shoulder title and two miniature medals.

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Estimate
£1,000 to £1,400

Starting price
£1000