James Russell Martin was born in 1916 in Sydenham Township, ON the oldest of three brother and three sisters.
He had graduated from Queen's University where he had served in the Canadian Officers' Training Corps (COTC) when he enlisted in the Royal Canadian Engineers on 2 October 1941 in Kingston, ON. He was married and declared he was a Civil and Mining Engineer. He started at the Officer Training Centre in Brockville, ON where he had already completed a basic course the previous year while in the COTC. In January 1942, he was posted to A5 Canadian Engineer Training Centre in Camp Petawawa, ON. He was promoted Lieutenant in April. During his time in Petawawa, he attended courses in Brockville and at A-17 Officer Training Centre in Three Rivers, Quebec. On 10 March 1943, James was posted to the 23rd Field Company in Sussex, New Brunswick and in July embarked for the UK, as part of 2nd Canadian Corps Troops Engineers who were the last RCE formation to be sent to Europe.
James landed in France with his company on 10 July 1944. They immediately set to clearing rubble in Caen followed by bridging tasks over the Orne River (see Marching in France – Remembering D-Day 75 Years Later). Next came the crossing of the Seine in late August where the 23rd Field Company carried infantry troops of the 4th Canadian Armoured Division across in storm boats before taking over a ferry operation. On 29th August, they led the operation to built one of the first floating bridges over the Seine at Pont de l'Arche.
In late September, the 23rd Field Company, along with the 20th Field Company and two Royal Engineer companies were assigned tasks in Operation BERLIN, the rescue of British paratroopers trapped in Arnhem after Operation MARKET Garden (Op BERLIN Whispers and Shadows in the Night – Engineers Rescue Airborne Forces). On the night of 25 September, they launched their first boat on schedule at 2130 hours. Unfortunately, it had been damaged in transit and proved useless. Fifteen minutes later the second boat left the shore carrying Lieutenant Martin, This final act so typified James' leadership. Because of the adverse conditions of darkness, absence of contact with the Airborne troops, and enemy fire, he asked permission of his Company Commander to cross and organize the far bank. He hoped by doing so to encourage his men and to establish early contact with the paratroopers on the far bank. Permission was granted, but as the boat made its way across the Neder Rijn a bracket of enemy mortar bombs fell across its path. The boat was hit, broke up and sank. None of the crew survived although later records report one sapper was taken prisoner and later died. The 23rd Field Company lost seven that night. Lieutenant Martin is buried in Holden Cemetery.
Lieutenant Martin was awarded a Mention in Dispatches for his role in the operation. It should be noted that acts of Gallantry as described here usually merited the award of a Military Cross. However, that award was not awarded posthumously. He also awarded the Bronze Lion by The Netherlands (see citation below).
Bronze Lion Citation
The example set by this officer to his men was outstanding at all times from the landing in Normandy in July 1944 until he was lost on the night of 25/26 September 1944. He was always resourceful and cheerful and his courage under fire won him the complete confidence of all.
His leadership is typified in the last action in which he took part. On the night of 25/26 September 1944 his platoon participated in an operation through which over 2,000 survivors of 1 British Airborne Division were rescued from Arnhem. The River Neder Rijn, at the point where the operation took place, was being subjected to intensive mortaring and shelling when the operation was ready to commence. The stretch of riverbank held by the Airborne troops on the far bank was known to be very limited and it was so dark and wet that no signal indicating their position could be seen. Lieutenant Martin begged permission to cross with the leading stormboat so that he might establish contact with the Airborne troops and guide following craft to them. His boat suffered a direct hit and so far as is known there were no survivors. His example, however, inspired others to continue the mission on which he had embarked to a most successful conclusion.