Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Complications flowing from leukaemia following war service in the jungles of Vietnam have claimed another victim. Lieutenant-Colonel Robert George Martin has died aged 57.

Martin's happy demeanour and customary broad smile hid his struggle of the past seven years to hold off the effects of the illness to which he eventually succumbed.
 
Martin - "Bob" to his friends and "Robbie" to his mother - regarded as his greatest achievement being able to balance successfully the competing obligations of being a citizen soldier, a farmer and a grazier.

Martin was born at Cowra, the oldest child of Helen Jenie Martin (nee Laing) and Captain William George Martin, OBE. Martin's siblings were Margaret (now Snape) and Stuart.

After the Martin family had moved to a property at Terrie Hie, in the Goulburn district, Martin was educated nearby at St Michael's Agricultural College, Inveralochy. Both home and school nurtured a lifelong love of vocal music. A tuneful voice, not obvious in later years, and a lack of sense of balance were two features of an otherwise uneventful childhood, which included service as an altar boy.

After school Martin concentrated on his life on the land, combined with a contract spraying business in partnership with his brother.

Martin was inspired and encouraged in military matters by his father's old commanding officer (of the 2/4th) in Palestine, Major General Sir Ivan Dougherty. Certainly he modelled himself on Dougherty, emulating his quiet confidence, his love and care of those under his command and the respectful way he treated other people.
 
During the Vietnam War national service was reintroduced in Australia. Martin was not called up, but volunteered in 1965. From his training course came a quartet of friends, "the four musketeers": David Beasley, Warren Thatcher, John Nicholson and Martin. In 1966 Martin was commissioned a second lieutenant at the Officer Training Unit, Scheyville, NSW, and took command of a platoon at 1 Recruit Training Battalion, Kapooka.

Service in Vietnam with 7 Battalion Royal Australian Regiment followed in 1967 and 1968. Part of his service was as a forward scout, where he acted with only an interpreter, directing fire and so on. Later he transferred to the headquarters of
1 Australian Task Force.

On his return to Australia Martin didn't talk much about his experiences, even within the family. His brother Stuart, who witnessed the nightmares as Martin slept, observed him to be "a changed man" who for a time, when he left the house at all, would go for walks on his own in the bush, sometimes for weeks.
 
Martin was appointed to command a platoon of the 3 Royal NSW Regiment, Canberra, and later took up a post as full-time aide de camp to the then governor of NSW, Sir Roden Cutler. I was a fellow (honorary RAAF) aide de camp to Sir Roden and Lady Cutler and we all became close friends, as did many of the other permanent and honorary staff.

Martin announced in 1973 that he was leaving Government House to serve in Kashmir. Promoted to his majority, he served for a year with the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan until 1974. He worked hard, often in forward areas, alternatively with the Indian and the Pakistani armies. His CO wrote of him that he "carried out all his assignments in a highly professional manner. His quiet, pleasant personality and his effective functioning earned him the liking and respect of all with whom he came into contact".
 
While on this assignment Martin met his future wife Laila, who, with her younger son Jyri, came with Martin to Australia. They lived first at Lake Bathurst and moved to Goulburn in 1978.

In 1991 the family settled on Willangi, a sheep property not far from Terry Hie. Laila, who had introduced the only Finnish sauna to Goulburn, moved it to Willangi. There its use was followed by a naked plunge in the dam. Never have yabbies seemed so threatening - not least to male guests.

While simultaneously pursuing his landed interests from 1974 to 1983, Martin enjoyed regimental appointments with
3 RNSWR. In 1984 he was made lieutenant-colonel and became a tactics instructor at 2 Training Group.
 
Then came the military joy of his life, serving as commanding officer of the 1st/19th Battalion, RNSWR, from 1986 until 1989. This was the highlight of his career. Other appointments followed until his retirement in 2000.

Martin was a good shot, had a fairly even temper, and was at ease in the company of both men and women, the latter finding him attentive and affectionate. He was family-centred and adored his grandchildren. He also enjoyed travel with his wife, especially their last trip, to Gallipoli and Finland, earlier this year.
 
Martin was, above all, a man of quiet faith. He lived his religion throughout life and was for years a regular "eight o'clocker" at Mass.

On Anzac Day, Martin was a powerful guest speaker. I think my proudest moment with him was when my wife and I visited Goulburn to see him march one Anzac Day and he spontaneously invited me to march with the Vietnam veterans. I have never marched on Anzac Day before or since, but to be accepted into such a fine body of men, invited by one of the finest, I found a singular honour.

At Martin's funeral the casket, draped with the Australian flag, bore his sword, his hat and his eight medals. They were the official recognition of a citizen soldier whose life was cut short as a result of voluntary service to his country. They mark a rare achievement for a farmer and grazier: Member of the Order of Australia, 1990; Australian Active Service Medal 1945-75 with Vietnam Clasp; Vietnam Medal; Australian Service medal 1945-1975 with Kashmir Clasp; National Service Medal; Reserve Forces Decoration 1984 with three clasps (1989, 1994 and 2000); Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal; and UN Medal for Service in India and Pakistan.
 
Martin is survived by Laila, stepson Jyri and family, his mother, sister and his brother and his family.