UP THE LADDER

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 133, 29 February 1936, Page 20

UP THE LADDER

Lower Deck to the Bridge

Few men iuj'modern times have had such a romantic career as Captain B. C S. Martin; viho joined the Navy “before the mast,” and is to command the sloop Folkestone in China this year, states a specljil-correspondent of a London journal.’:When he became a bluejacket boy In 1907, at the age of 15, there was no bona-fide- promotion to commissioned rank from the- lower, deck,; and . his prospects appeared 'to/limited to long service in' warrant rank and a possible lieutenancy just prior to retirement at 55.

The ranker promotion scheme announced by Mr. Winston Churchill in his first Navy Estimates speech as First Lord of the Admiralty, in 1912, reopened an avenue from the lower deck to the quarter deck which had been closed for nearly a hundred years. Commissioned rank was made possible for “hawse” pipe entries at the age ot 25. Young Martin was not slow to take advantage of the new opportunities. He became a warrant officer at 23, joined the wardroom at 25, received his “brass hat” at 40, “shipped his fourth stripe” at 44. in June last, and so became the youngest ranker captain of modern times. Having specialised in torpedo and electrical work as a rating, he later served as a torpedo officer in cruisers and in command of several destroyers. Promoted to warrant rank in May, 1915, he was appointed to the new battleship Malaya, then building on the Tyne at the expense of the Federated Malay States. At the Battle of Jutland the Malaya was heavily engaged by the Koenig and other German battleships. The last'of Admiral.-Beatty’s ships to turn,' ou sighting the High Seas Fleet, she became the target of' a whole division Salvoes fell all round her at the rate of six a mifiute, and, twice hit badly below the water Hue, she began to list. Oil fuel had to be [jumped from starboard to port to bring her back to an even keel.. '

For move than half an hour the Malaya bore the brunt of the fighting.

but, in spite of 63 killed and 33 wounded, her position in the line was maintained throughout the action. In the first lower deck promotion list issued after the battle Martin was awarded a commission. His further war service included the destroyer Cossack in the Dover Patrol, another period in the Malaya, and the cruiser Leviathan in the Atlantic convoy’service. .

After serving in Cnina in 1919, he commanded tye trawler James Connor for special service is the south of Ireland, and was then appointed bn'the staff of the Admiralty Ex[jerimental Station at Shandon, in Scotland. Having commanded various home port destroyers, he became, the first ranker officer.- to command a Fleet destroyer, and did so in both the Mediterranean and Atlantic Fleets. Y! Promoted Yo commander on June 30. 1931, be was given the “blue ribbon” job of the destroyer flotillas, when his ship, H.M.S. Vortigeru, became the Royal Yacht attendant vessel for Cowes Week. With the captain of the Malaya, H.M. Guardship, Commauder Martin, was honoured by an invitation to dine with the late Kins aUd Queen Mary on board the Victoria and Albert. During 1931-32 he commanded the Mediterranean destroyer Voyager, and since August. 1933. he has been the physical and recreational training officer on the staff of the Commander-im Chief at Devonport. So far there hqs been only one other “tarpaulin” captain, and no admiral, as a result of the ranker promotion scheme of 1912. The last “tarpaulin” admiral to serve on the active list was Able-Sea-man John Kingcombe. who obtained his lieutenancy in 1818, ami, after serving as Commauder-in-Cbief of ’the Pacific Station, retired as Admiral of the Red, Sir John Kingcombe, K.C.B. Promotion to flag rank is now a matter of “dead men’s shoes,’’ or early retirement by oilier officers. Captain Marlin can serve 11 years before the compulsory retirement age. With M reduction of the present period of service of captains, he may quite possibly became the first ranker admiral on the active list of the century.