Lieutenant-Colonel Arthur MARTIN-LEAKE 4 April

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His interests include cardiovascular diseases in the young, training in extreme ... Consultant Cardiologist, 424 Military Hospital of Thessaloniki. • Clinical Fellow ... Africa as a civil surgeon. Later ... Bengal-Nagpur Railway, in India. Having an ...
MILITARY MEDICINE HISTORY HISTOIRE DE LA MÉDECINE MILITAIRE The International Review of the Armed Forces Medical Services welcomes in its Military Medicine History section, biographical notes of Great and Heroic Figures of Military Medicine. La Revue Internationale des Services de Santé des Forces Armées accueille dans sa rubrique Histoire de la médecine militaire, des notes biographiques de grands et héroïques personnages de la Médecine Militaire.

Lieutenant-Colonel Arthur MARTIN-LEAKE 4 April 1874 - 22 June 1953. “Bravery and devotion to duty”. A hero and adventurer.

By D. GIANNOGLOU∑ ∏. Greece Major Dimitrios GIANNOGLOU is a Consultant Cardiologist in the Greek Army. He studied Medicine in the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and graduated from the Corps Officers' Military School. His interests include cardiovascular diseases in the young, training in extreme circumstances, CBRN warfare and military history. Current Positions: • Consultant Cardiologist, 424 Military Hospital of Thessaloniki • Clinical Fellow, Cardiology, St George’s Hospital, London. • Research Fellow, Cardiovascular Sciences, St George’s University, London. • Research Fellow, Cardiology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. Past Positions: • Head of the Greek Marine Corps Medical Department, Volos, Greece.

Photo 1: Arthur MARTIN-LEAKE (National Portrait Gallery, London, UK).

Arthur Martin-Leake was the first of only three men in history who managed to get the prestigious Victoria Cross for Valor twice. He was born at Standon, Hertfordshire, and he made a carrier as military doctor in the British Army. Arthur was the fifth son of Stephen and Isabel Martin-Leake. He finished the Westminster school and studied medicine at University College Hospital, qualifying in 1893. He worked as a doctor at Hemel Hempstead District Hospital, but soon he was enlisted to the Royal Yeomanry in 1899 and fought in the second Boer War. After one year of military service, he remained in South Africa as a civil surgeon. Later, having the rank of a captain, he joined the South African constabulary, which gave him the chance to win his first Victoria Cross at Vlakfontein, Transvaal, on the 8th February 1902. He was then 27 and he was attached to the 5th Field Ambulance.

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Dedicated to saving his comrades’ lives, he showed unrivalled courage when he went to cure the injured

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Photo 2: Martin-Leake memorial, Farm Syferfontein, South Africa.

Photo 4: Arthur Martin-Leake’s decorations.

Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons (FRCS) in 1903. He then worked as a Chief Medical Officer with the Bengal-Nagpur Railway, in India. Having an adventurous spirit, Arthur volunteered with the British Red Cross, attached to the Montenegrin Army during the 1st Balkan War (1912). He participated in the Siege of Scutari (1912–13) and at Tarabosh Mountain. He was awarded the Order of the Montenegrin Red Cross. But his military carrier was not over yet. With the outbreak of World War I, he joined again the 5th Field Ambulance as a lieutenant of the Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC). It is said that, as he was already 40, he was afraid that he would be considered too old for active military duty. So, he travelled to France and enlisted himself at the British consulate. Again, he continuously showed self-sacrifice and devotion and he was responsible for saving many lives of British soldiers who were injured near the enemy trenches. He participated in the Western front and received his second Victoria Cross for his actions during the period from 29 October to 8 November 1914 near Zonnebeke, Belgium. Thus he became the first soldier to wear a clasp on his prestigious award for valor.

near the enemy lines, under heavy enemy fire. He was injured three times before going back to safety. He was decorated by King Edward VII in an official ceremony at St James’s Palace on 2 June 1902. The award citation reads as follows: “During the action at Vlakfontein, on the 8th February, 1902, Surgeon-Captain Martin-Leake went up to a wounded man, and attended to him under a heavy fire from about 40 Boers at 100 yards range. He then went to the assistance of a wounded Officer, and, whilst trying to place him in a comfortable position, was shot three times, but would not give in till he rolled over thoroughly exhausted. All the eight men at this point were wounded, and while they were lying on the Veldt, Surgeon-Captain Martin-Leake refused water till every one else had been served.”

His award citation reads: “Lieutenant Arthur Martin Leake, Royal Army Medical Corps, who was awarded the Victoria Cross on 13th May, 1902, is granted a Clasp for conspicuous bravery in the present campaign:

Arthur Martin-Leake received his qualification as a

For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty throughout the campaign, especially during the period 29th October to 8th November, 1914, near Zonnebeke, in rescuing, whilst exposed to constant fire, a large

Photo 3: Commemorative cover for the 150 years of the VC.

∑ 32 Marine Corps Brigade, Volos, Greece. ∏ St George's University, London, UK. Correspondence: Major Dimitrios GIANNOGLOU, MD, MC 424 Military Hospital of Thessaloniki Cardiology Department Periferiaki odos N. Efkarpias GR-564 29, Thessaloniki GREECE E-mail: [email protected]

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number of the wounded who were lying close to the enemy’s trenches.”

plaque and a tree at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire.

His rank promotions after his second deployment with the British Army were: - Captain (March 1915). - Major (November 1915). - Lieutenant Colonel-Commander of the 46th Field Ambulance (April 1917).

REFERENCES

His Victoria Cross with clasp is now on display in the Army Medical Services Museum, Aldershot, England. Arthur Martin-Leake left the army after WWI. He worked in India again and when retired, he returned to England in 1937. During the Second World War, he commanded an Air Raid Precautions (APR) post. He died in 1953, 79 years old, from lung cancer, at High Cross, Hertfordshire. He is commemorated with a

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Clayton, Ann: Martin Leake: Double VC, 2015.

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De la Billière, Peter: Supreme Courage, London 2004.

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The London Gazzette, 16 February 1915.

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Martin-Leake

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http://www.rorkesdriftvc.com/vc/martin-leake.htm

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http://www.ramc-ww1.com

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http://www.victoriacrossonline.co.uk/arthur-martin-leakevc-and-bar/4587555433

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http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2244778/Is-bravest-soldier-Arthur-Martin-Leake-won-TWO-VictoriaCrosses-Boer-War-WW1.html#comments By Ian Drury for the Daily Mail, 7 December 2012.

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