Arthur Martin-Leake

Lieutenant Colonel Arthur Martin-Leake, (4 April 1874 – 22 June 1953) was an English physician, officer in the Royal Army Medical Corps and a double recipient of the Victoria Cross (VC), the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. Martin-Leake was the first of three men to be awarded the VC twice, the others being Noel Godfrey Chavasse and Charles Upham.

Early life Arthur, the fifth son of Stephen Martin-Leake of Thorpe Hall, Essex, was born at Standon, near Ware, Hertfordshire, and was educated at Westminster School before studying medicine at University College Hospital, qualifying in 1893. He was employed at Hemel Hempstead District Hospital before enlisting in the 42nd (Hertfordshire) Company, Imperial Yeomanry in 1899 to serve in the Boer War.

Boer War

After his year of service as a trooper in the Imperial Yeomanry was completed, Martin-Leake stayed on in South Africa as a civil surgeon. He then joined the South African Constabulary until he was forced to return home due to his wounds.

He was 27 years old and a surgeon captain in the South African Constabulary attached to the 5th Field Ambulance during the Second Boer War on 8 February 1902, at Vlakfontein, when he was awarded his first VC.

He received the decoration from King Edward VII at St James's Palace on 2 June 1902.

Interbellum Martin-Leake qualified as a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in 1903 after studying while convalescing from wounds. He then took up an appointment in India as Chief Medical Officer with the Bengal-Nagpur Railway.

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Army Medical Services Museum, Aldershot, England.

He was promoted captain in March 1915, major in November the same year, and in April 1917 took command of 46th Field Ambulance at the rank of lieutenant colonel.

During the Second World War, he commanded an ARP post.

He died on 22 June 1953, aged 79, at High Cross, Hertfordshire. Following cremation at Enfield Crematorium, Middlesex, Martin-Leake was buried in St John's Church, High Cross. He is commemorated with a plaque and a tree at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire. Memorial service at High Cross, Hertfordshire, for Martin-Leake, 2002. Major C.D.V. Bonfield, RAMC, Mrs Sybil Martin-Leake, Mr Hugh Martin-Leake, Major Charles Monk and Trumpeter C/Sergeant Gardner, The Royal Anglian Regiment.