Excellent video featuring former A Company CSM, Charlie Martin MM of the QOR. His book Battle Diary is an excellent account of infantry and small unit tactics. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yt_2viNNN6I
good day canuck.yesterday.12:46am.re:a day in the life of charlie martin.thank you for posting.it has been a very moving story of life on the front line.to those who did not return,may they rest in peace.regards bernard85
Great story, excellent editing, some remarkable personal stories, it is worth giving this 50 minutes of quality viewing time.
Bumping this thread with a recently found photos of Martin (middle). Not the typical image one would have of a CSM.
I urge everyone who has not seen this film to find the three quarters of an hour to watch it in it's entirety. Perhaps some kind soul will tell me if there is a YouTube film around, of similar quality, that dealt with the war in Italy ? I have always held the Canadian Forces in high esteem and this film truly does them justice. Watch it ! Lest we forget ! Ron
Forever Young The precursor to Battle Diary http://www.qor.com/files/repository/foreveryoung.pdf Award of The Military Medal B63919 Warrant Officer Class II (Company Sergeant-Major) Charles Cromwell Martin, Canadian Infantry Corps On the morning of 4 March 1945, "A" Company, 1st Battalion, The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada was committed to an attack on Balberger Wald at the southern end of the Hochwald Forest. In the initial stage of the attack and unknown to the platoon commanders ahead, the Company Commander of "A" Company was severely wounded. The fighting at this particular time was confused and due to the denseness of the woods, control was difficult to maintain. Company Sergeant Major Martin, of "A" Company, picked up a Bren gun and made his way under intense enemy fire to the right flank of the company. Upon reaching the right flank, Company Sergeant Major Martin personally led the attack of his men in a daring charge at the enemy. Firing the Bren gun from the hip and constantly urging his men on he inspired the men to great heights. The enemy was completely routed and left behind 26 dead and 47 prisoners. Company Sergeant Major Martin personally accounted for 11 enemy dead. This magnificent example of courage, coolness in action, ability to inspire men, and devotion to duty on the part of this Warrant Officer was mainly responsible for the success of "A" Company, 1st Battalion, The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada, in this attack.
Have just bought Charlie Martin's Battle Diary on Kindle and am looking forward to learning more about this remarkable man. https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00APR0JH2/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1 Ron
I hope you enjoy it Ron. It's always been one of my favourites. Martin was a warrior and I've gleaned from many other sources that he personally accounted for scores of enemy soldiers. Yet, he does not not discuss that aspect very much in his book. Not unlike many other Canadian combat soldiers, he avoids discussion of the killing and focuses on other aspects. Maybe you know why that tendency exists.
After reading Charlie's book I went on Google this morning to see if there were any updates and found this: The Rifleman Online - The QOR of C Ron