Martin Francis Richard Merrison Lt 62303

Personnel Entry

[[Image:|thumb|alt=Captain F R M Martin|Captain F R M Martin]]

Name Martin Francis Richard Merrison
Army number 62303
Rank Lieutenant.
Decorations M.C. - Gazetted 14/2/1946, Territorial Efficiency Medal - 4/3/1947 plus Service Awards.
Date of birth 31/7/1912, Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne.
Age 77 at the time of his death.
Unit Commissioned in the the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers 2/2/1934 and posted to the 5th Battalion. Transferred to The Durham Light Infantry 1/7/1938 and posted to the 8th Battalion. Posted to the 11th Battalion 1/9/39. Embarked from the UK 25 - 26/4/1940 and served in France with the B.E.F. Wounded. Taken Prisoner of War 20/5/1940 near Ficheux. Returned to the UK 1945. Relinquished Commission on grounds of disability 12/8/1946. From Active List became Major 8/8/1949. Ceased TARO liability on age grounds 19/9/1962, retaining the honorary rank of Major.
Company/Battery HQ Company, D Company.
Platoon or other sub-unit
Task or role Company Commander.
Joined Brigade 01-Sep-39.
Promotions T/Captain, Captain 11/4/1945, Major 8/8/1947.
Wounded Yes - near Ficheux before capture 20/5/1940.
Prisoner of War Yes - held in Eichstatt O6B/O7B. PoW Number 15654.
Died/Killed in action Died 3/2/1990 at Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne. Probate granted at Newcastle Registry on 15/3/1990. See below for Obituary.
Home address Father - Arthur Kemp Martin, mother - Mary (nee Butcher). Attended Durham School 1926 - 1929 and achieved OTC Cert. A. with the Cadet Force. Lived with family in 1934 at 18, Osborne Avenue, then with his wife in 1937 at 38, Highbury, and 1945 26 Grosvenor Place, Jesmond, Newcastle upon Tyne. Married Doreen Margaret Ingram Besley in July 1936 in Northumberland South District.
Source table 11DLI

We could not trace a "McGregor Card" for this Officer in DCRO thus resulting in more limited initial information about him. Family input - via his son Richard Martin - eventually became available and proved invaluable. It was much appreciated and added significantly to the contents of this Page. In addition, a copy of Captain Martin's Wartime Diary had been transcribed by Richard. The text has been saved and will be incorporated appropriately into the Battalion War Diary for the period spent in Northern France. This has provided a unique insight into the detailed movements of his Company and includes helpful mentions of other Battalion Personnel. It is hoped that this and other artefacts will be able to be lodged in the DLI Collection at Durham County Record Office in due course.

Captain Martin's Obituary - written by Charles Burdon Taylor - appeared in the Spring 1990 Edition of The Silver Bugle as follows:-

One of the more colourful and endearing personalities, "Tubby" or "Merri" will be remembered in the North Easy Stockbroking Fraternity by his involvement in the thirties and during the post-war years with the family firm of stockbrokers Mail, Kinsella and Co. from which he eventually retired as Senior Partner.

His service started with 5th Fusiliers, being commissioned into the Territorial Army in the mid thirties. Later, he transferred to the 8th Bn The Durham Light Infantry, joining his brother. Then, with the pre-war doubling of the TA, Tubby was posted to the 11th Battalion in 1938. Embodied in August 1939, he embarked for France with the Battalion which was part of 23rd Division. Much of the activity at this time was in airfield construction and similar duties since the Division was not as yet fully equipped. Despite the shortage of weapons and communications, the 11th Battalion was involved in the heavy defensive operations SE, S, and SW of Arras, holding up the German armoured advance to the sea. It was at this time that Tubby was severely wounded "in an argument with German tanks", was awarded the MC and was finally captured in, or near, Ficheux, SW of Arras. He was moved to hospital Parmentier Cambrai, by all accounts not the best of hospitals.

Bill Sillar, who was also there, recalls of Tubby: "Martin had an enormous slice of tissue out of his left buttock, but he was so busy looking after other people that he did not give it a chance to heal. Tubby Martin must be the biggest hearted bloke that I have met. Instead of lying in bed and awaiting attention as did over 100 people with less serious wounds, he carried out, during the first bad days, a spell of duty in his own ward, dishing out bottles, bed pans and drinks of water". Tubby was moved on via other hospitals and camps, finally ending up in Oflag 7B at Eichstatt.

Mike Scott (8 DLI and later Colditz) recalls that Tubby never was one to sit back, and that he was soon involved in the art of escapology, helping, encouraging, and above all, on account of his extrovert good humourand cheerfulness, maintaining with others a high degree of morale under adverse conditions, all this despite his wounds. Dennis Harker (11 DLI), also present, will not be drawn on the report that Tubby was a good cook!

Released in 1945, Tubby returned to stockbroking and his usual energy and thoughts for others! He maintained his links with his old school, Durham, and he also continued his memberships of Gosforth Rugby Club, the Northumberland County Cricket Club and the cricket links with St George's Rovers.

His public spirited outlook nearly got him into politics with the formation of the local Ratepayers' Association in which he played an active part in improving the lot of his fellow residents. He became chairman, later president, and the Association still exists today. For over ten tears he was a member of the local ARC, contributing much to their fundraining initiatives for research into arthritis, rheumatism and the need to teach authorities the needs of sufferers. The Samaritans also received his attention and support, but where does one stop in considering Tubby's interest in people and their welfare?

There was also his New Year's Day Champagne Cocktails, but that is another story,

Our sincere sympathy goes out to his family.

The text was accompanied by a sketch of "Merrison" by "Bos".