Research on Second World War fallen Arthur Joseph Martin

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Research on Second World War fallen Arthur Joseph Martin

Transcript

On May 5th, we mark the 75th anniversary of the Liberation of the Netherlands that took place in 1945.

Scenes of war

It is important to take a moment to remember our fallen heroes. To commemorate and to recognize those that made the ultimate sacrifice; the gift of their lives. Soldiers from all corners of Canada decided to join the military to fight for our freedom during the Second World War. Some may even be from your hometown or have the same background. Hi, my name is Vanessa, I am 22 years old. I’m a proud francophone from Sudbury, Ontario, and today I’d like to share with you the story of a soldier named Arthur.

Photo of Arthur Joseph Martin

Arthur Joseph Martin was a brave young man,

Family photo

son of Lea and George Martin. He was born on May 31, 1921, in Sudbury, Ontario.

Photo of entrance to Sudbury, Ontario

Arthur was a francophone who grew up with one sister, two brothers and his widowed mother in Azilda, a community nearby the city of Sudbury.

Photo of military document and Attestation Paper

It was on May 2nd 1944, when he officially enlisted in the Canadian armed forces in Chatham, Ontario. He was a young man who was in good overall health despite moderate smoking, and had the ability to read and write. Private Arthur Joseph Martin was part of the

Photo of Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada crest

Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada, also known as the Princess Louise’s of the Royal Canadian Infantry Corps and wore the service number A113518 proudly. The 28th of August 1944 would be the last day that Arthur Martin was on Canadian soil as he was sent overseas to the United Kingdom for additional training. On September 23, 1944, he was taken on strength with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, who were part of the 10th Brigade of the 4th Canadian Armoured Division in France. September 1944 would mark the beginning of

Video montage of troups in the Netherlands

the Netherlands campaign which would last until May 1945. In a war diary from the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders,

Photo of a war diary pages

it says they spent New Year’s Eve 1944 and January 1st, 1945 in Holland with the view of a German air attack, and the launching of several buzz bombs in the cold winter skies. Here is an extract from the Argyll’s war diary: “By 2200 hours most military activity had ceased, a lucky few obtained bottles of liquor for New Year’s Eve, but most of us were “firmed up” in the arms of Morpheus

Photo of military plan dropping provisions to people below

while a troubled world passed from anno 1944 to anno 1945”.

Photo of soldiers loading a gun

It must have been tough for these soldiers to be so far away from their loved ones.

Photo of two soldiers with two children

I can just imagine how Arthur Joseph Martin felt that night. It was on January 30th, during fighting along the Maas River at Kapelsche Veer, that the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders attempted an attack on a house that was given the codename “Raspberry” in order to gain control of the German stronghold. In general, the plan was that the tanks would engage with machine-gun fire and the infantry would go in.

Photo of a war diary page

In the second attempt they finally gained control of “Raspberry” but they did suffer a high casualty. During that fateful night of January 30, 1945, at the young age of 22, Private Arthur Joseph Martin

Photo of Arthur Martin

had died, fighting for his country.

Photo of military document

Today, he rests in the Netherlands,

Photo of Groesbeek War Cemetery

at Groesbeek War Cemetery in, section XVI, row C, plot 7.

Photo of a map of Groesbeek War Cemetery

The Liberation of the Netherlands is a very important piece of history as it helped in bringing an end to the Second World War and liberated the Dutch people.

Photo of crowd cheering

This was a great victory, however, victory does not come without great loss.

Photo of a pile of guns

More than 7,600 Canadians would have died

Photo of a war cemetery

in the efforts to free the country. One of which was Arthur Joseph Martin,

Family photo

that I will always keep close to mind. On this day of remembrance, during Veterans’ Week or any day of the year, I challenge you to learn more about a soldier from your city, from your background,

Photo of a group of soldiers

from your interest, whether that person died in service,

Photo of a group of soldiers marching

or continued to serve in times of war and times of peace,

Photo of currently serving CAF members

or is currently serving. We will remember them.

Description

Research project on Arthur Joseph Martin, by a former student guide at Vimy and Beaumont-Hamel, filmed to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the Liberation of the Netherlands.

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