Horace Robert Martineau was a South African recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
Details
He was 25 years old, and a Sergeant in the Protectorate Regiment (N.W. Cape Colony), South African Forces during the South African War (Boer War) when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 26 December 1899 near Mafeking, South Africa, during the action at Game Tree, when the order to retire had been given, Sergeant Martineau rescued a corporal who had been struck down near the Boer trenches The sergeant managed to half-drag, half-carry the wounded man to a bush where he attended to his wounds. He was shot in the side himself, but took no notice and carried on helping the corporal until he was wounded a second time and was forced to give up.
Further information
He later achieved the rank of Lieutenant. Grave/memorial at Buried at Andersons Bay Soldiers Cemetery, Dunedin, New Zealand. Returned Serviceman's Area. Block 73. Lot 16. Headstone. (Also has name on family grave at Brookwood Cemetery, Surrey, England).
Horace Martineau's VC is consigned for a future sale at Spink:
From Spink's Feb 2002 newsletter:
"Among a number of interesting gallantry items that have been consigned recently is the last of the Defence of Mafeking Victoria Crosses - the other two were auctioned in London in 1989 and in South Africa 1999. Our recipient, Sergeant H.R. Martineau of the Protectorate Regiment, displayed great gallantry in bringing in a wounded comrade under fire during the attack on 'Game Tree Fort' on 26 December 1899. Twice wounded in the attempt, Martineau's left arm had to be amputated. Soon after the outbreak of hostilities in 1914, he was commissioned into the NZEF but he died in April 1916, following service in Gallipoli. His VC, with related campaign awards, is estimated at GBP 50,000-70,000."
(Submitted by Ian Hartley, 4 Feb 2002)
The medal
please update if you know where his medal is publicly displayed
Reference
- Monuments To Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
- The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
- Victoria Crosses of the Anglo-Boer War (Ian Uys, 2000)
- Ian Hartley
See also
External links
- The Brookwood Cemetery Society (Known Holders of the Victoria Cross Commemorated in Brookwood Cemetery)
This page has been migrated from the Victoria Cross Reference with permission.