Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Private

Unit:

D Company, 1st Battalion, The Carleton and York Regiment, 3rd Canadian Infantry Brigade, 1st Canadian Infantry Division, Canadian Army

Recommendation:
During an encounter between forward elements of “D” Coy, West Nova Scotia Regiment and the Germans near la Rosamarina at approx 1400 hrs on 2 August 1943 the number two of the bren in Pte. Martell’s section were put out of action, the number one being killed and the number being seriously wounded, both by heavy M.G. fire. Pte. Martell, a rifleman, without hesitation picked up the loads of these two men bren and utility pouches filled with ammunition, in addition to his own rifle ammunition and haversack, and carried them forward 100 yards over open ground continuously swept by M.G. and rifle fire to his section who were in an advance position and isolated without an automatic weapon. By so doing he succeeded in making his section’s position on a hillside tenable. Pte. Martell was forced to travel in short bounds because of the weight of the three loads which proved so heavy that he was forced to crawl the last 100 feet over bullet swept ground, but he managed to reach his section safely and to deliver his loads, then taking up his position and engaging the enemy with his rifle. Pte. Martell showed distinct coolness complete disregard for his own safety, courage of a high order and initiative in that without a moment’s hesitation and taking orders from no one he seized up the loads of two other men and carried them forward to the remainder of his section who were in an isolated position and in danger of being wiped out.
In my opinion Pte. Martell has more than fulfilled the duties expected of a private soldier to such a degree that his courage and initiative are deserving of recognition and I hereby recommend him for the DCM.