95604 Major-General Peter Lawrence de Carteret MARTIN, CBE, MiD*, Cheshire Regiment

Personal Number: 95604
Rank: Major-General
Name: Peter Lawrence de Carteret MARTIN, CBE, MiD*
Unit: Cheshire Regiment


London Gazette : 4 July 1939
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34642/page/4570/data.pdf
The undermentioned Gentlemen Cadets from the Royal Military College, to be 2nd Lts. 3rd July 1939:—
Cheshire R.—
Peter Lawrence de Carteret MARTIN.

London Gazette : 9 August 1945
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37213/supplement/4052/data.pdf
The KING has been .graciously pleased to approve that the following be Mentioned in recognition of gallant and distinguished service in North-West Europe:—
Cheshire R.
Maj. (temp.) P. L. de C. MARTIN (95604).

London Gazette : 5 August 1952
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/39614/supplement/4180/data.pdf
Cheshire.
Capt. P. de M. BAYNHAM (95603) to be Maj., 3rd July 1952, with precedence next above P. L. de C. MARTIN (95604).

London Gazette : 30 September 1958
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/41508/supplement/5952/data.pdf
The QUEEN has been graciously pleased to approve that the following names be mentioned in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Malaya for the period 1st January to 30th June 1958:
The Cheshire Regiment.
Maj. P. L. de C. MARTIN (95604).

London Gazette : 1 January 1964
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/43200/supplement/7/data.pdf
The QUEEN has been graciously pleased to give orders for the following promotions in, and appointments to, the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire:
To be Ordinary Officers of the Military Division of the said Most Excellent Order :
Lieutenant-Colonel Peter Lawrence de Carteret MARTIN (95604), The Cheshire Regiment

London Gazette : 31 January 1967
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/44238/supplement/1155/data.pdf
COMMANDS AND STAFF
REGULAR ARMY
The undermentioned Cols, to be Brigs., 31st Dec. 1966:
P. L. de C. MARTIN, O.B.E. (95604), late Inf.

London Gazette : 8 June 1968
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/44600/supplement/6304/data.pdf
THE QUEEN has been graciously pleased, on the occasion of the Celebration of Her Majesty's Birthday, to give orders for the following pro- motions in, and appointments to, the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire:
C.B.E.
To be Ordinary Commanders of the Military Division of the said Most Excellent Order:
Brigadier Peter Lawrence de Carteret MARTIN, O.B.E. (95604), late Infantry.

London Gazette : 13 July 1971
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/45422/supplement/7491/data.pdf
COMMANDS AND STAFF
REGULAR ARMY
Brig. (Acting Maij.-Gen.) P. L. de C. MARTIN, C.B.E. (95604), late Inf. to be Maj.-Gen., 13th Juil. 1971, with seniority 4th Nov. 1970

London Gazette : 21 January 1975
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/46469/supplement/863/data.pdf
COMMANDS AND STAFF REGULAR ARMY
Maj.-Gen. P. L. de C. MARTIN, C.B.E. (95604) late INF., retires on retired pay, 28th Dec. 1974.

London Gazette : 4 June 1974
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/46306/supplement/6579/data.pdf
COMMANDS AND STAFF
Maj.-Gen. P. L. de C. MARTIN, C.B.E. (95604) late INF. relinquishes the appointment of Director of Personal Services (Army), Ministry of Defence, 31st May 1974.

London Gazette : 11 April 1978
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/47508/supplement/4406/data.pdf
PRINCE OF WALES'S DIVISION
REGULAR ARMY
Col. (Hon. Brig.) Michael Donald Keen DAUNCEY, D.S.O. (184738) is appointed Colonel, The Cheshire Regiment, 1st Apr. 1978, in succession to Maj.-Gen. Peter Lawrence de Carteret MARTIN, C.B.E. (95604), tenure expired.

 

London Gazette : 9 August 1945
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37213/supplement/4044/data.pdf


https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37213/supplement/4052/data.pdf

 

Recommendation for Award for Martin, Peter Lawrence de Carteret Rank: Lieutenant... | The National Archives
Reference: WO 373/170/170
Name Martin, Peter Lawrence de Carteret
Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
Service No: 95604
Regiment: The Cheshire Regiment
Theatre of Combat or Operation: New Year Honours
Award: Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire
Date of announcement in London Gazette: 01 January 1964

 

Martin, Peter Lawrence de Carteret (Oral history)

• British officer served with 2nd (MG) Bn Cheshire Regt, 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Div in Egypt, Sicily, Italy, GB and North West Europe, 5/1943-11/1944; served with 2nd Bn Cheshire Regt, 1st Infantry Div in Palestine, 1946-1947; staff officer served as GSO II (Intelligence), 1st Infantry Div in Palestine and Egypt, 1947; served with 1st Bn Cheshire Regt in Malaya, 1957-1958 and Northern Ireland, 1962; commanded 1st Bn Cheshire Regt in West Germany, 1962-1963; served as staff officer with British Headquarters British Forces on Cyprus, 1963-1965; commanded 48th Gurkha Bde in Hong Kong, 1966-1967

• REEL 1 Recollections as officer with 2nd (MG) Bn Cheshire Regt, 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Div in Egypt, 5/1943-6/1943: operational use of Vickers Machine Gun; role of machine gun battalion; explanation of term, 'the beaten zone'; move to Sidi Bishr, Alexandria, 5/1943; character of training course at Combined Training Centre (CTC) Middle East, Kabrit, 5/1943; question of numbers of medals awarded as determined by commanding officer; preparations for beach landing; training at Adabiya, 6/1943; crewing of machine guns; premonition of death by brother officer Lieutenant David Cox; visit by General Bernard Montgomery; embarkation aboard SS Ruys at Suez; briefing for landings on Sicily, Italy; reaction to information that Sicily was to be objective.
• http://ww2talk.com/index.php?thread...avid-hemersham-cox-2-cheshire-regiment.93558/
  
• REEL 2 Continues: proposed role of unit during landings on Sicily. Recollections of operations as officer with 2nd (MG) Bn Cheshire Regt, 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Div on Sicily, Italy, 7/1943-8/1943: sight of coastline and beaches; confusion during landings; his company landing on beach; allocation of transport; fate of airborne troops; partial loss of transport for one of his platoons; character of one of his platoon commanders; advance inland; contrast in terrain with Western Desert; problems moving through vineyards; confusions during advance north; battle drill during advance; encounter with Italian Carro Armato L3/33 Tankette near Floridia; character of Brigadier Ronald Senior; German air opposition on approach to Primasole Bridge, 14/7/1943; arrival at Primosole Bridge, 14/7/1943.
• REEL 3 Continues: capture of Primosole Bridge, 15/7/1943; reasons for 9th Bn Durham Light Infantry having to cross and recross Primosole Bridge; role of Lieutenant Colonel Alastair Pearson in planning retaking of Primosole Bridge; unit's support for 8th Bn Durham Light Infantry's taking of Primosole Bridge, 15/7/1943; role of War Office observer during battle; problems crossing River Simeto in Primosole Bridge area in support of 6th Bn Durham Light Infantry, 16/7/1943-17/7/1943; arrival of armoured support for attacks on Primosole Bridge, 17/7/1943; demand by troops to kill wounded German paratrooper who had thrown grenade and outcome, 17/7/1943; advance to take Fosse Bottacetto, 18/7/1943; decision to pull 168th Infantry Bde back and put division in holding position.
• REEL 4 Continues: relief and recall of unit from rest area, 4/8/1943; character of advance towards Catania; liberation of Aci Sant Antonia, 8/8/1943; pulling out of front line, 10/8/1943; reads excerpts from letters written to mother including fate of Lieutenant David Cox; resting in Sicily and address from General Bernard Montgomery; reaction of civilians to fall of Benito Mussolini. Aspects of period as officer with 2nd (MG) Bn Cheshire Regt, 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Div in GB, 1943-1944: pride of troops in divisional insignia, 11/1943; reception in Bristol; arrival in Brandon; reception at Red Cow Public House in Cambridge; change of role to support group; reaction of troops to address by new divisional commander Major General Douglas Graham that division would be spearheading landings in Normandy, France.
• http://ww2talk.com/index.php?thread...avid-hemersham-cox-2-cheshire-regiment.93558/
  
• REEL 5 Continues: composition of division for Operation Overlord; move to Nightingale Wood near Southampton, 4/1944; amphibious landing exercises; issue of waterproof gas trousers; reaction to briefing about proposed landings on Gold Beach, Normandy, France; problems with administration; embarkation on Landing Craft Infantry (LCI), 3/6/1944; letter written to sister, 4/6/1944. Recollections of operations as officer with 2nd (MG) Bn Cheshire Regt, 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Div during landings on Gold Beach, Normandy, France, D-Day, 6/6/1944: crossing English Channel; sight of Allied armada; character of landing in quiet sector; move out of assembly area during afternoon; German surrenders; plan for his unit to join 8th Armoured Bde; abortive attempt to liberate Bayeux; machine gunning of his Willys Jeep by American fighter aircraft.
• REEL 6 Continues: wounding of Brigadier Ronald Senior. Recollections of operations as officer with 2nd Bn Cheshire Regt, 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Div in Normandy, France, 6/1944-8/1944: crossing of St Leger-Caen road, 7/6/1944; delays in orders for 8th Armoured Bde column to attack Villers Bocage, 8/6/1944; problems with ambitious start lines; orders to support Sherwood Rangers at Point 103, 9/6/1944; terrain at Point 103; under German tank fire at Point 103, 9/6/1944; narrow escape from shelling during mission to rescue wounded NCO, 9/6/1944; fighting in Point 103 area; verbal encounter with officer of 1st Bn Dorsetshire Regt; importance of overhead cover on Bren Gun Carrier from air bursts; end of attachment to 8th Armoured Bde; character of actions in Tilly-sur-Seulles/Hottot-les-Bagues area, 14/6/1944-15/6/1944; encounter with German half-tracks on route to see brigadier.
• REEL 7 Continues: reads excerpts from letters sent home during 6/1944; attitude of officers in division to constant attacks; divisional casualties; dangers of troops' dependence on artillery support; signs of battle fatigue; dealing with dead cows; Royal Artillery issue of meteor telegrams; rivalry between 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Div and 51st (Highland) Infantry Div; question of German morale under Allied shells and mortars; danger of 4.2 Inch Mortar bombs losing tail fins; German radio attempt to stop British mortaring; arrival of battalion transport and replacements, 7/1944; attitude to officer who broke down under strain; precautions against possible German use of gas; reaction to death of Lieutenant Colonel Robert James commanding officer of 5th Bn East Yorkshire Regt, 3/8/1944; reaction to arrival of General Brian Horrocks.
• REEL 8 Continues: importance of capture of Mont Pincon; reasons for changing name of British Western Expeditionary Force; reads excerpt of letter to mother; sight of carnage in Falaise Gap, 8/1944; sight of American soldier on horseback attempting to round-up fleeing German troops; delivery of baby 'Philippe Liberation' by medical officer, 8/1944; crossing River Seine, 29/8/1944. Recollections of operations as officer with 2nd (MG) Bn Cheshire Regt, 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Div in North West Europe, 9/1944-11/1944: arrival in Amiens, France, 1/9/1944; opening fire on German column at Pontigny, France, 1/9/1944; first emergence of French Resistance at Doullens, 2/9/1944; story of Major Tony Mellor's dealing with German armoured car and capture of hundreds of Germans; arrival in Arras, France, 3/9/1944; liberation of Brussels, Belgium, 6/9/1944; orders to move to assault Albert Canal, Belgium, 7/9/1944.
• REEL 9 Continues: German tactics in defending Albert Canal, Belgium. 9/1944; use of assault craft to cross Albert Canal, 8/9/1944; in action in bridgehead at Gheel, Belgium, 9/9/1944-10/9/1944; German outflanking of 8th Bn Durham Light Infantry at Gheel, Belgium, 10/9/1944; fighting at Doorn-Boom crossroads, Belgium; withdrawal of brigade headquarters back across Albert Canal, Belgium; German tank commander who shouted that he 'wanted to die for Hitler'; turning point of battle and withdrawal of Germans; his temptation to shoot wounded German POW after death of Private William Price, 10/9/1944; question of medals for his company's work during the fighting in the Gheel bridgehead, Belgium, 9/1944; attending ENSA show in reserve, 13/9/1944; advance towards Lommel, Belgium, 16/9/1944.
• REEL 10 Continues: sight of Allied air fleet during Operation Market Garden, 17/9/1944; role of division during Operation Market Garden; taking up defensive positions on 'The Island', Netherlands; contact with Dutch civilians; news that division would withdraw to GB; his objection to dispersal of company; dance in Nijmegen, Netherlands; story of visiting Member of Parliament for Chester to stop unit being broken up. Aspects of period as officer with 2nd Bn Cheshire Regt in GB, 11/1944-2/1945: retraining unit as infantrymen, 12/1944; dispersal of unit, 2/1945; reaction to VE Day, 8/5/1945; opinion of jungle training. Recollections of operations as officer with 2nd Bn Cheshire Regt, 1st Infantry Div in Palestine, 1946-1947: voyage from GB to Egypt; arrival in Palestine, 3/1946; his pro-Arab stance, 5/1946; attitude of Jewish settlers towards British troops on a social level.
• REEL 11 Continues: role commanding fort; situation in Palestine and with Jewish insurgent groups; launching of Operation Agatha by General Evelyn Barker, 29/6/1946; character of Yagur Kibbutz near Haifa; accounts of search of Yagur Kibbutz; results of Yagur Kibbutz search including biggest arms haul in Palestine; question of Lieutenant General Richard Gale's inaccurate account of how arms were found during Operation Agatha at Yagur Kibbutz, 29/6/1946.
• REEL 12 Continues: murder of Polish Jewish settlers classed as informers in Yagur Kibbutz; dealing with illegal Jewish migrants during Operation Igloo; excerpt from letter written home, 8/1946; refusal of application to resign from army; return to Palestine, 1947; in quarantine after soldier caught smallpox; reaction to order to take staff course. Aspects of period as GSO II (Intelligence), 1st Infantry Div in Palestine and Egypt, 1947: role as intelligence officer to Lieutenant General Richard Gale; reaction to killing by Jewish insurgents of British Sergeants Clifford Martin and Mervyn Paice, 30/7/1946; running agent in Egypt. Recollections of operations as officer with 1st Bn Cheshire Regt in Malaya, 1957-1958: flight from GB to Malaya, summer 1957; jungle course at Jungle Warfare Training School, Kota Tinggi; slowness of movement in jungle; unit's allocated area of operations; dedication of Frank Kitson; 1st Bn Rifle Brigade's Tiger Patrols.
• REEL 13 Continues: degree of knowledge of remaining insurgents in his area of operations; attempt by 1st Bn Rifle Brigade to eliminate remaining insurgents prior to handing over to his unit; bet with Frank Kitson that he would get remaining insurgents in two weeks; capture of two insurgents by 7 Platoon; incident when wounded insurgent led patrol on false trail to old insurgent camp; accidental discovery of insurgent camp on Mount Ophir; wounding of female insurgent and subsequent surrender of Ah Chin's group; surrender of Ah Chin's group; surrender of Ah Chin's bodyguard; hunt for Ah Chin; surrender of Ah Chin; pursuit of Lee Ming; superstition of Iban tracker; failed ambush of Lee Ming prior to his surrender; move to Labis area of South Johore.
• REEL 14 Continues: lack of intelligence about insurgents in South Johore; story of aid received from Auster AO9 pilot in searching jungle leading to discovery of insurgent camp; change in orders to capture insurgent prisoners at Elephant Camp; possessions Ah Ching had on him when captured; treatment of captured insurgents; importance of surrender of Hor Lung. Aspects of operations as officer with 1st Bn Cheshire Regt in Northern Ireland, 1962: posting to Ballykinlar; opinion of working under General John Hackett; low level of Irish Republican Army (IRA) activity; problems caused by smugglers across border; attempt to provoke Irish Republican Army (IRA) and ceasefire. Aspects of period commanding 1st Bn Cheshire Regt in Germany, 1962-1963: taking command of battalion, 1962; relationship with Brigadier Michael Carver; story of attempt to deceive Brigadier Michael Carver during exercise.
• REEL 15 Continues: leaving Germany, summer 1963. Recollections of period as staff officer with Headquarters British Forces on Cyprus, 1963-1965: staff duties; character of Major General Peter Young; story of unfortunate way he discovered Major General Peter Young had been responsible for ordering Jaguar vehicles for army; story of how Major General Peter Young had feigned deafness after Arnhem, 9/1944; water supplies; attacks on Turkish Cypriots by Greek Cypriots, 12/1963; plans and preparations in case of Turkish invasion; visit by Duncan Sandys; reinforcement of British garrison; difficult situation created by having two major generals on island; decision to call in United Nations; his briefing of United Nations representatives; keeness of French Canadian United Nations contingent to distance themselves from British; solving Swedish United Nations contingents' problem with flagpole length; problems between 1st Bn Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers and Irish United Nations contingent; relations with Irish United Nations contingent.
• REEL 16 Continues: relations with Danish, Finnish and Austrian United Nations contingents; victualling problems caused by variety of United Nations contingents. Recollections of period as commanding officer of 48th Gurkha Bde in Hong Kong, 1966-1967: posting to command; degree of knowledge of Gurkhali language; brigade exercises; effects of Chinese Cultural Revolution; features and character of Hong Kong-China border; role of 30 Border Regt, Chinese People's Liberation Army; forces on British side of border; Chinese take-over of Macao, early 1967; demeanour of Chinese civilians crossing and recrossing Hong Kong-China frontier; atmosphere in Hong Kong and New Territories, 1967.
• REEL 17 Continues: contingency plan in case hostile crowd illegally crossed border; his 'Wapenshaw' plan to meet such a contingency; Hong Kong Police's dealing with Chinese mob, 24/6/1967; machine gun attack on Shatu Kok Police Station, 8/7/1967; fate of policemen in Shatu Kok Police Station, 8/7/1967; his orders to relieve besieged Shatu Kok Police Station, 8/7/1967; Chinese People's Liberation Army's opening fire on Life Guards armoured cars to cover withdrawal; recovery of Shatu Kok; contingency plan for defence of Lo Wu crossing point; loudspeaker war at Lo Wu crossing point; reasons for changing from Cantonese to Mandarin as medium of propaganda; British Army's taking over control of border from Hong Kong Police; his inability to get policy ruling on border control from Government of Hong Kong; rules for responding to Chinese aggression; problems of dealing with Chinese stone throwing, catapulting and airguns; Battles of Provocation by Poster, 8/1967.
• REEL 18 Continues: passing of law against inflammatory posters, 7/1967; Chinese mob attack on immigration compound at Lu Wu, 3/8/1967; use of gas to disperse mob, 3/8/1967; attack on police post at Man Kam To, 5/8/1967; attempt to have logical discussion with mob at Man Kam To; question of signing an agreement with People's Republic of China; question of lack of 'Thoughts of Chairman Harold Wilson'; breaching of 'treaty'; appearance of Chinese People's Liberation Army at Man Kam To; Chinese protest against use of Dannert Wire.
• REEL 19 Continues: renewed attack on Dannert Wire and taking of hostages by Chinese; release of hostages after their signing paper under duress; orders to close borders; decision to reopen border; further attacks on Hong Kong Police; attack on 1/10th Gurkha Rifles at Shatu Kok, 7/1967; lessons drawn from confrontation on border; problems for Chinese People's Liberation Army after confrontation by Red Guards; reasons why phosphorus grenades proved a good anti-riot weapon; refusal of permission for his intelligence gathering proposals; incident when riot was precipitated by pressmen disobeying orders not to approach border at Lo Wu, 24/8/1967; burns suffered by Chinese rioters from phosphorus grenades; method of communicating with Chinese People's Liberation Army in order to defuse dangerous situations; second incident at Man Kam To, 24/8/1967-25/8/1967.
• REEL 20 Continues: ending of trouble on border, 8/1967; problems after kidnapping of Inspector Frank Knight, 14/10/1967; discussion of British tactics adopted; question of handling Gurkha troops; attitudes of Gurkha troops towards situation and Chinese rioters; attitude of Hong Kong Chinese living in New Territories and in Hong Kong.

 

See also:

• Person Page
• Cheshire Regiment - Wikipedia
• Peter Lawrence de Carteret Martin - National Portrait Gallery
• Martin, Peter Lawrence de Carteret, (1920-2006), Major General | The National Archives
• Celebrated war hero dies aged 84
• Major General Peter Martin | The Times
• D-Day: The Soldiers' Story ; Giles Milton
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