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Chaplain 4th Class Cecil Radcliffe MARTYN
Army Chaplains Department Date of birth: 22nd December 1874 Date of death: 3rd March 1919 Died aged 44 Buried at St Sever Cemetery Extension Rouen Plot SV Row M Grave 8
Cecil Radcliffe Martyn was born at Countess Weir near Topsham in Devon on the 22nd of December 1874 the eldest son of Henry Matthews Martyn, a paper manufacturer, and Helena Sara (nee Quirk) Martyn later of 46 Thornton Road, Thornton Heath in Surrey. He was educated at Lancing College where he was in Seconds House from April 1889 to July 1890. He studied for Holy Orders at St Aidan's College, Birkenhead before matriculating as an Arts student at Hatfield Hall, Durham University in 1897 where he achieved a BA in 1899. While he was at Durham he excelled as a rower, serving as Secretary of both Hatfield and the University boat clubs. In the spring of 1898 he was a member of the crew which won the Senate Cup. He became a Deacon in 1900 and served as Curate of St John the Baptist Church at Bradwardine, Worcester from 1900 to 1906. He was married on the 28th of April 1903 at St Saviour's Church, Paddington to Christine Florence Mabel (nee Stewart) later of 10 Southwood Court, Hampstead Gardens Suburb, London NW11 and of Crescent House, Effingham Road, Surbiton. They had five children, Joan Helena, born on the 19th of September 1904, George Radcliffe, born on the 5th of August 1906, Doris Maude Alicia, born on the 2nd of March 1909, Audrey Ellen, born on the 2nd of August 1910 and Katherine. He was appointed as Curate-in- charge of Polesworth with Dordon in Birmingham in 1906 and as Rector of St Quinton with Warley Woods in Birmingham in 1910. He was appointed as Vicar of St Mary's Church, Tamerton Foliot in Devon in 1912 and served there until he applied for service with the Army Chaplains Department on the 11th of August 1915. He was appointed as a Chaplain 4th Class on the 7th of September 1915 and was posted to 101st Infantry Brigade. He joined them at their base at Southern Command Headquarters at Tidworth near Salisbury on the same day. On the 22nd of December 1915 he volunteered for overseas service and on the 17th of March 1916 he was posted as Chaplain to the town troops at Rouen. He volunteered to extend his service for a further year on the 21st of November 1916, on the 12th of November 1917 and on the 8th of November 1918. He was twice mentioned in despatches. A letter dated the 10th of January 1919 accompanied one of the recommendations: - "For good works as Assistant to the Assistant Chaplain General at this base, and for his administration of the Chaplains work in the town area." He was serving at Rouen when he was taken ill with influenza and was admitted to No. 8 General Hospital at Rouen where he died. His wife received the following telegram dated the 24th of February 1919: - "Regret O.C. 8 General Hospital Rouen reports February twenty third Capt. Rev. C.R. Martin (sic) Chaplain Forces seriously ill influenza. Further news immediately received." She received a further telegram dated the 4th of March 1919: - "Deeply regret Capt. Rev. C.R. Martyn Royal Army Chaplains Dept. died of influenza March third. The Army Council express sympathy." He is commemorated on the war memorial at Durham University and on the memorial at Tamerton Foliot.

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