BX November 11, 1940

Colonel O.M. Martin Spoke at Remembrance Day Service – Sponsored by Branch 90, B.E.S.L., Annual Service Largely Attended

“One again we are faced with a madman at the head of a mad nation – the same mad nation with which we were faced a quarter of a century ago.  Hitler has infected the German people with his pestilential breath.  But make no mistake about this – we have marked him down and we will not stop until he is put out of harm’s way for all time to come.  God give us all strength to hear the heavy burden that must be ours before this beastly job is done,”  declared Col. O.M. Martin, V.D., O.C. the 13th Canadian annual Remembrance Day service held last evening in the Capitol Theatre and sponsored by the Brantford Branch of the Canadian Legion.

In introducing Col. Martin, Lt.-Col. Alf. P. vanSomeren stated that he considered it a great honor to introduce a “native of the Six Nations Reservation who had risen from the ranks and had a most distinguished record of service with two of the Empire’s armed services.”  Thirty years ago, Lt.-Col. vanSomeren said, a young Indian boy of 14 had enlisted in the Haldimand Rifles.  In 1915 he went overseas with the 114th Battalion, only to be transferred the next year to the 107th Battalion.  One year later while in England, he joined the Royal Flying Corps as an observer and later became a pilot Lieutenant.  After the First Great War Col. Martin was very active in the Non-Permanent Active Militia and a few years ago was appointed O.C., the Dufferin Rifles, a position he held until the regiment became the Dufferin and Haldimand Rifles. Then he was transferred to the command of an infantry brigade and at the present time was O.C., the 13th Canadian Infantry Brigade.

Col. O.M. Martin, V.D.

Thanking the Canadian Legion for the high honor it had conferred upon hi in asking him to speak at its annual Remembrance Day service, Col. Martin declared that 22 years ago today the First Great War had come to an end and victory had been secured.  “Many of you here tonight have vivid memories of the years spent in the trenches of France and other parts of the world.  I know that on ever November 11 since the first Armistice Day old soldiers gather to play a game called ‘I remember.’  Those of us who came home after the terrible struggle did so secure in the knowledge that we were returning to peace, contentment and happiness.

“We were told when we left that our jobs would be waiting for us; that there would be pensions for us, and that we would be well and truly looked after.  The ones we left patted us on the shoulder as we boarded our troop trains and said: ‘Don’t worry, we’ll look after you when you get back.  You will not want for anything.

“Well, for many of us when we returned after having fought a victorious battle for liberty, freedom and Christianity, we found the struggle only just beginning.  For many of us the struggle for our very existence is still going on.

“Now we are engaged in a Second Great War, a war which is being fought for the self-same ideals as was War No. 1 – liberty, freedom, Christianity and democracy.  Our boys are once again going away to war in a distant land well and truly fortified in the knowledge that when they return they will be well looked after.

“It is up to you to see to it that this time these soldiers, on their return, are well and truly looked after in every way.  In this connection the Canadian Legion has done good work.  I implore that that work be continued and broadened.”

Continuing Col. Martin stated that tonight the hallowed memory of friends left behind in Flanders Fields was being duly and appropriately honored.  Those gallant men left their homes years ago because the ideals which they cherished were threatened with foul extinction.  There it was, he declared, who loved their homes, country and Empire sufficiently to die in their defense. The same thing was equally true today.  Men had again taken up arms in defense.  The same thing was equally true today.  Men had again taken up arms in defense of cherished ideals and again were prepared to lay down their lives to slay the evil dragon at the head of a nation gone complexly mad.  The dragon and his followers would be slain and Hitler, whose foul breath had infected the German people would be put out of harm’s way for all time to come.

“God grant us strength to bear the heavy burdens which must be ours until this beastly job is done,” he concluded.

Major J.A.D. Slemin

Major J.A.D. Slemin, President of Branch 90, B.E.S.L., presided and in a brief address welcomed the large audience.  He thanked all who had a part in the success of the Poppy Day campaign, proceeds from which, he declared had ar exceeded those of last year.  He also mentioned the Poppy Day Essay Competition which had been conducted in the public and separate schools and, assisted by Mrs. John Noble, Regent of Municipal Chapter, I.O.D.E., presented prizes to the winners.

Acting Mayor J.P. Ryan

Acting Mayor J.P. J.P. Ryan extended a civic welcome to Col. O.M. Martin and congratulated him on his recent appointment to the command of the 13th Infantry Brigade.  He mentioned the possibility of fifth columnists in Brantford and urged citizens to work quietly and to report to the authorities any “suspicious actions.”  Every citizen should cooperate in the prevention of sabotage, and nothing should be allowed to hinder Brantford’s war effort, the Acting mayor said.

A large choir composed of members of the choirs of local Anglican Churches, and directed by A.G. Merriman, F.R.C.O., organist and choirmaster and Grace Anglican Church, led the congregation in the singing of familiar hymns and also contributed the anthem, “Souls of the Righteous.” Rev. Joseph James, Pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, and Vice-President of the General Ministerial Association led in prayer and Rt. Rev. Monsignor T.L. Ferguson gave the benediction.  The Canadian Legion Band played selections prior to the commencement of the service and accompanied the choir for the singing of hymns.  The stage had been appropriately decorated and adding appreciably to the general decoration were the flags of the various Chapters of the Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire.  These were placed in front of the stage before the service commenced.

BX December 17, 1957

Brig. Oliver M. Martin Dies in Toronto at 64; Was Indian Magistrate

Brigadier Oliver Milton Martin, York County magistrate, and the first Indian to be appointed to a judicial position in Ontario, died in hospital in Toronto today at the age of 64.

His death followed a recent operation.

Brigadier Martin was a noted son of the Six Nations Indian Reserve, and an outstanding Canadian.  He had a distinguished career as a soldier, educationist and magistrate.

An Iroquois, born at Ohsweken, Brig. Martin had a distinguished military career in two world wars.

He became interested in military activities at the age of 15 and joined the Haldimand Rifles as a bugler.

Up Through Ranks

He worked up through the ranks to a commission, and when the First World War broke out he enlisted and went overseas with the 114th Battalion from Toronto.

In 1917 he transferred to the Royal Flying Corps, with which he served to the end of the war, first as an observer and later as a pilot.

Before the First World War he had graduated from high school and the Toronto Normal School, and after the war he attended the University of Toronto.

He received his early education at a reserve school and later at Caledonia High School.

At 26, following the First World War, he applied to the federal government for funds from the Indian reserve funds to attend university.  His request was denied.

He tried to work himself through the University of Toronto, but eventually quit to become an elementary school teacher.

Became Teacher

In 1922 he enrolled as a teacher at Secord School, in East York, and he remained on the staff until 1936.  A happy event during that interval was his marriage to one of the feminine members of the teaching staff.

He had been principal of Danforth Park School for several years before the Second World War broke out.

Brig. Martin never gave up his connection with the military.  Associated after the First World War with the Haldimand Rifles, he successively became captain, adjutant, major, and in 1930 lieutenant-colonel.

When the Dufferin Rifles and Haldimand Rifles were united in one regiment he became its first commander.

Brigade Commander

When the Second World War began, Brig. Martin offered his services at once and commanded, first the 13th Brigade then the 14th in Southern British Columbia, and later the 16th in Northern British Columbia.  Afterwards he was sent overseas on special duty.

He became officer commanding the Hamilton-Niagara area of Military District No. 2.

For a time, after retirement of Major-General Constantine, he had charge of the whole of M.D. 2.

He was appointed magistrate of York County in November 1944.