What peeked my interest, is the both had the same last name, and BOTH going to the same address in Seattle, Washington…….and after investigation found out they were Father and Son, Father was a Colonel and son was a Corporal
I had to find out more, so I started my normal search pattern and found the father, Col Donald Bruce Martyn, born in Canada, served in the First World War and also in the Second World War.
I could post his records, but they are frankly a mile deep. So I’ll will post info on him from Find a Grave AND
You can see ALL the awards he won, for Bravery leading his men, from the front, as you will see……..he was wounded multiple times
After reading this, I had to post this info, not many Colonels in the Army you see with Awards for Bravery multiple times…….A VERY BRAVE MAN and a LEADER of SOLDIERS
First, the two records that started this search
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His awards, Most in the First World War, and an award from the US in the Second World War.
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Name: Col. Donald Bruce Martyn
Age: 67 or 68 yrs {articles conflict}
Birth: 1890, Ripley, Ontario
Death: 13 Jan 1958, Shaugnessy Hospital, Vancouver, BC; suddenly
Residence: Highland Dr., Seattle, Washington; past few years
Previous residence: Haney, BC; from before WWI
Military:
- through WWI and WWI, went from army private to colonel of Canadian Scottish Regiment
- awarded the DSO, MC and Bar, Croix de Guerre, Volunteer Officers' Decoration, the American Legion of Merit
- mentioned in despatches
- commissioned in the Westminster Regiment (104, Westminster Fusiliers) at start of WWI
- 1914, posted to composite detachment, Nanaimo, BC; in charge of internment camp
- 1915, officer-in-charge of trench warfare training, 47th Battalion
- 1916, wounded, invalided back to Canada
- 1917, back to France, with 44th Battalion Manitoba Regiment; eventually became 2nd in command
- 1919, demobilized
- 1920, 2nd in command of the 16th Canadian Scottish (Victoria, BC); assumed command 1926
- 1935, returned to the reserve
- volunteered at beginning of WWII, called to duty in 1942, and became commanding officer of Vancouver and Prince Rupert defences
Occupation:
- a variety of occupations through his career
- teacher & municipal supervisor of schools; Maple Ridge, BC
- operated a real estate business
- deputy minister of industries/trade for B.C.; nominated by Liberals in Dewdney, BC; 1920-1935
- held post of industrial and rehabilitation department head
- Washington State manager for North American Life Insurance
- retired, 1957
Memberships & affiliations:
- past master, Pacific Lodge No. 16, A.F. & A.M.; Mission, BC
- past master, Royal Arch Masons
- past master, Knights Templar
- Past Potentate, Gizeh Temple, A.A.O.N.M.S.
- member, Royal Order of Jesters
- member, Pacific Club, Victoria, BC
- member, Washington Athletic Club; Seattle, Washington
Survived by:
- wife, Jean Grace; Seattle, Washington
- daughter, Mrs. L.R. (Mona) Noble; Seattle, Washington
- son, Malcolm Alan; Nelson, BC
- 6 grandchildren
- brother, Harry L.; Grand Master, Grand Lodge of Ontario, A.F. & A.M.); Toronto, Ontario
- brother, Murdock, past potentate Rameses Temple, A.A.O.N.M.S.; Toronto, Ontario
- sister, Mrs. William Prouse; Prince Edward Island
- sister, Mrs. Leonard Outerbridge; Lennoxville, Quebec
- sister, Mrs. Shirl Bowers; Ripley, Ontario
- sister, Mrs. Peggy Finlayson; Toronto, Ontario
Funeral service: 17 Jan 1958, Vancouver, BC
Interment: family plot, Masonic Cemetery, Burnaby, BC
References:
- "Much Decorated -- Teacher, War Hero Col. Martyn Dead", Times Colonist (Victoria, BC), 15 Jan 1958; page 24. Newspapers.com. Web.
- "Deaths", The Vancouver Sun, 15 Jan 1958; page 34. Newspapers.com. Web.
- "Soldiered Here During War One - Col. D.B. Martyn", Nanaimo Daily News, 15 Jan 1958; page 5. Newspapers.com. Web.
- "Prominent BC soldier, Lt.-Col. Martyn, dies", The Province (Vancouver, BC), 16 Jan 1958; page 37. Newspapers.com. Web.
- "Col. Martyn, Veteran of 2 Wars, Dies", The Vancouver Sun, 17 Jan 1958; page 17. Newspapers.com. Web.
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BC Death Registration: 1958-09-001299
Name: Donald Bruce Martyn
Age: 67 yrs
Racial origin: Scottish
Birth: 25 Sep 1890, Ripley, Ontario
Death: 13 Jan 1958, Shaugnessy Hospital, Vancouver, BC
Status: Married
Father: John Martyn; Ontario
Mother: Henrietta McIvor; Ontario
Wife: Jean Etta Grace McGaw
Occupation: Branch Manager, North American Life
Last worked in occupation: 1956
Years in occupation: 31 yrs
Residence: Highland Drive, Seattle, Washington, USA
In Vancouver: 1 wk
In BC: 1 wk, In Canada: 1 wk
Informant: M.A. Martyn, son, Nelson, BC
Burial: 17 Jan 1958, Masonic Cemetery, Burnaby, BC
Source: Find a Grave