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Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Ivan Harold Martin

In memory of:

Major Ivan Harold Martin

August 21, 1944

Military Service

Age:

32

Force:

Army

Unit:

Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada (Princess Louise's)

Citation(s):

Distinguished Service Cross (USA)

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Major Ivan H. Martin, Canadian Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy from 18 to 21 August 1944. In the course of operations in the fanatically defended town of St. Lambert, Major Martin displayed the highest degree of personal heroism. Both during the initial attack on the city and later during defensive operations when his command was continuously harassed by vicious and bitter counterattacks by the enemy, he constantly appeared at the scene of the thickest fighting. He offered his men a magnificent example which inspired them to hold their positions against the strongest efforts of a numerically superior enemy, and his conduct was consistent with the finest military traditions.

Honours and Awards:

Mentioned in Despatches

Additional Information

Son of Harold C. and L. Pearl Martin; husband of Annette Joyce Martin, of Toronto, Ontario.

Major Ivan Harold Martin has been honoured by having Mount Martin named after him. The location of Mount Martin is in Yukon (95C01- 60° 07’ 45”- 124° 08’ 53”).

Commemorated on Page 379 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.

Burial Information

Cemetery:

BRETTEVILLE-SUR-LAIZE CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY
Calvados, France

Grave Reference:

XVIII. C. 13.

Location:

This cemetery lies on the west side of the main road from Caen to Falaise (route N158) and just north of the village of Cintheaux. Bretteville-sur-Laize is a village and commune in the department of the Calvados, some 16 kilometres south of Caen. The village of Bretteville lies 3 kilometres south-west of the Cemetery. Buried here are those who died during the later stages of the battle of Normandy, the capture of Caen and the thrust southwards (led initially by the 4th Canadian and 1st Polish Armoured Divisions), to close the Falaise Gap, and thus seal off the German divisions fighting desperately to escape being trapped west of the Seine. Almost every unit of Canadian 2nd Corps is represented in the Cemetery. There are about 3,000 allied forces casualties of the Second World War commemorated in this site.

Information courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Digital Collection

Send us your images

  • Newspaper Clipping– Memorialized on the pages of the Globe and Mail. Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me

    Details

    Newspaper Clipping
    Newspaper Clipping – Memorialized on the pages of the Globe and Mail. Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Toronto Star September 1944. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

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    Newspaper clipping
    Newspaper clipping – From the Toronto Star September 1944. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Toronto Telegram September 1944. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

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    Newspaper clipping
    Newspaper clipping – From the Toronto Telegram September 1944. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Toronto Telegram July 1946. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

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    Newspaper clipping
    Newspaper clipping – From the Toronto Telegram July 1946. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Photo of Ivan Harold Martin– One of the few pictures I have of my Grandfather.

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    Photo of Ivan Harold Martin
    Photo of Ivan Harold Martin – One of the few pictures I have of my Grandfather.
  • Photo 2 of Ivan Harold Martin– My Grandfather

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    Photo 2 of Ivan Harold Martin
    Photo 2 of Ivan Harold Martin – My Grandfather
  • Photo of Ivan Martin– Picture was probably taken in Halifax before leaving for England.

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    Photo of Ivan Martin
    Photo of Ivan Martin – Picture was probably taken in Halifax before leaving for England.
  • Cemetery

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    Cemetery
    Cemetery
  • Entrance

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    Entrance
    Entrance
  • Grave Marker

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    Grave Marker
    Grave Marker
  • Distinguished Service Cross– Awarded posthumously for actions during the World War II The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Major Ivan H. Martin, Canadian Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy from 18 to 21 August 1944. In the course of operations in the fanatically defended town of St. Lambert, Major Martin displayed the highest degree of personal heroism. Both during the initial attack on the city and later during defensive operations when his command was continuously harassed by vicious and bitter counterattacks by the enemy, he constantly appeared at the scene of the thickest fighting. He offered his men a magnificent example which inspired them to hold their positions against the strongest efforts of a numerically superior enemy, and his conduct was consistent with the finest military traditions. General Orders: Headquarters, European Theater of Operations, U.S. Army, General Orders No. 271 (September 27, 1945) Action Date: August 18 - 21, 1944 Service: Canadian Army Rank: Major Company: Company B Regiment: Argyll and Southern Highlanders

    Details

    Distinguished Service Cross
    Distinguished Service Cross – Awarded posthumously for actions during the World War II The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Major Ivan H. Martin, Canadian Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy from 18 to 21 August 1944. In the course of operations in the fanatically defended town of St. Lambert, Major Martin displayed the highest degree of personal heroism. Both during the initial attack on the city and later during defensive operations when his command was continuously harassed by vicious and bitter counterattacks by the enemy, he constantly appeared at the scene of the thickest fighting. He offered his men a magnificent example which inspired them to hold their positions against the strongest efforts of a numerically superior enemy, and his conduct was consistent with the finest military traditions. General Orders: Headquarters, European Theater of Operations, U.S. Army, General Orders No. 271 (September 27, 1945) Action Date: August 18 - 21, 1944 Service: Canadian Army Rank: Major Company: Company B Regiment: Argyll and Southern Highlanders
  • Photo of IVAN HAROLD MARTIN– Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me

    Details

    Photo of IVAN HAROLD MARTIN
    Photo of IVAN HAROLD MARTIN – Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me

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