Martin, James Born ca 1897, Derry City Education: St Columb's College, Derry, St. Patrick's College, Drumcondra, Dublin;
Naval Service - Rank
Schoolmaster * - 04.09.1920 Schoolmaster **
* Warrant Rank ** Commissioned Officer from Warrant Rank 21.02.1935
(retired 06.04.1938; at his own request)
Principal of Boleran elementary School, Garvah, County Derry, N. Ireland 1938-1970.
Death April 1991, Coleraine, N. Ireland
James Martin RN - Naval Career
04.04.1923 - HMS Cambrian (light cruiser) 01.01.1925 - MS Ganges (training establishment, Shotley) 01.10.1925 - HMNZS Diomede (cruiser) [lent to Royal New Zealand Navy] 01.10.1928 - HMS St Vincent (boys' training establishment, Forton, Hampshire) 01.10.28 - RN Barracks, Chatham [HMS Pembroke] 03.10.1930 - HMS Hermes (aircraft carrier) (China) 01.11.1933 - HMS Ganges (training establishment, Shotley) 27.08.1937 - HMS Neptune (cruiser) (Africa)
James joined the Merchant Navy before his Royal Naval career and sailed as a stoker "coal trimmer" on the SS Laplander an armed troopship in convoy during the 1st World War. When Eamonn De Valera escaped from Lincoln Prison in February, 1919, helped by Michael Collins, (the Film "Michael Collins") he made his way to the coast and became a stowaway. The SS Laplander took him to Canada. From there he journeyed to the U.S. where he worked to obtain subscriptions to an Irish national loan. (The Big Fellow, by Pierce Beasley). Did James stoke the Irish Revolution?
Pictures and accounts of the four Naval craft that Uncle (Great Uncle) James Martin RN sailed on during his 18 year career in the Royal Navy can be found at the following URLSs - in order - HMS Hermes - http://www.fleetairarmarchive.net/ships/Hermes.html, HMS Neptune - http://www.hmsneptune.com/history1.php, HMS Diomede - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Diomede_%281919%29, HMS Cambrian - http://www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/cambrian_class.htm#HMS%20Cambrian.
HMS Hermes - 1930-1933
Navy: The Royal Navy Type: Aircraft Carrier Class: Hermes Pennant: D 95 Built by: Armstrong (Newcastle-on-Tyne, U.K.) : Parsons Ordered: Jul, 1917 Laid down: 15 Jan, 1918 Launched: 11 Sep, 1919 Commissioned: 7 Jul, 1923 Lost: 9 Apr, 1942
James served aboard the HMS Hermes, an aircraft carrier, from 1930 until 1933.
Nine years later, HMS Hermes, heading in convoy from Trincomali to the Maldive Islands, was attacked by the Japanese First Air Fleet's 50 Aichi D3Al aircraft (soon to be named VAL by the Allies) from the Japanese carriers Akagai (flagship), Hiryu, and Soryu, which sank her and also sank a destroyer, corvette and two tankers, southeast of Trincomalee, Ceylon on 9 April 1942. Akagi had been the flagship for the Pearl Harbor attack in December 1941
James Martin also served aboard the Cruiser HMS Neptune from 1933 until 1937.
Four years later HMS Neptune ran into an uncharted minefield in the Mediterranean off Tripoli in 1941, and sank with the loss of 764 officers and men. The sole survivor, Able Seaman Norman Walton, was rescued by an Italian torpedo boat, after 5 days in the water.
An account of his Naval career can be seen at the URL below. Track down until you come to J Martin.
Hovering the cursor over the picture of James at this URL produces further information and clicking on it produces relevant data from the family website "Postman Bill".
Education
James Martin (Ref - 2(6)) Entered September 1915 Address: Bishopgate, Londonderry Age on 1 January 1916 - 18 and 8/12 (eight twelveths) Diocese - Derry Parish - Templemore He was a "Monitor" in St Columbas Boys School, and the P.P. was Rev Wm Doherty, St Columbas Presbetery, Derry.
Source
Theresa O'Farrell President's Office St Patrick's College Telephone - 01-8842006 Fax - 01-8367613 email - theresa.ofarrell@spd.dcu.ie
History of the College St Patrick's College was established in 1875 to meet the teacher training needs of a denominational primary school system. The College was initially based at numbers 1 & 2 Drumcondra Road, moving to its present site at Belvedere House in 1883. During the Presidency of Fr. Peter Byrne CM, in the 1880s and 1890s, an extensive building programme was undertaken which, along with a second major phase of development completed in 1966 during the Presidency of Dr Donal Cregan C.M. and a third completed in 1982, still forms the core of the campus.
The administration of the College was placed in the care of the Vincentian fathers where it remained until 1 September 1999. In 1999, the Vincentians withdrew from the management of the College. On 1 September, Dr Pauric Travers was appointed first lay President of the College
The College quickly became and remains the alma mater for a large proportion of Irish primary teachers. Its graduates have made a distinguished contribution to the educational, social and cultural life of the country. Originally an all-male College, female students were admitted for the first time in 1971; they now constitute a large majority of the student population.
More About James Martin: Education 1: Bet. Sep 1915 - 1918, St. Patrick's College, Drumcondra, Dublin 9. Education 2: http://www.spd.dcu.ie/main/index.shtml. Education 3: St Columb's College, Derry. Military service: Bet. 04 Sep 1920 - 06 Apr 1938, Royal Navy, Retired 06/04/1938.130 Occupation 1: Bet. 1938 - 1970, Headmaster, Boleran Primary School, Garvagh. Occupation 2: Publican - Cambell's Pub (His wife was Jayne Campbell).131 Occupation 3: Bet. 1918 - 1920, Merchant Navy.
James Martin (b. 1897, d. Apr 1991)
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