David James Martin KCMG AO (1933 - 1990)

Born 15 Apr 1933 in Darling Point, New South Wales, Australia

Ancestors

Died 10 Aug 1990 at age 57 in Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Kenneth Evans [send private message]

Biography

Preceded by Air Marshall Sir James Rowland AC, KBE, DFC, AFC

34th Governor of New South Wales 20 Jan 1989 to 7 Aug 1990

Succeeded by Rear Admiral Peter Ross Sinclair AC, KStJ

David Martin KCMG AO is Notable.

Sir David Martin KCMG AO KStJ was a Rear Admiral of the Royal Australian Navy and Governor of New South Wales. He also established the Sir David Martin Foundation to assist young Australians in crisis.

He was born David James Martin on 15th April 1933 in Darling Point, New South Wales, Australia. He was the only child of William Martin and Isla Murray. As Sir David Martin, he passed away on 10th August 1990 of pleural mesothelioma, a rare form of lung cancer caused by asbestos to which he was exposed throughout his naval career. ^[1]

Naval service

David Martin KCMG AO is a Military Veteran.
Served in the Royal Australian Navy 1947-1988

David joined the Royal Australian Navy as a cadet midshipman and entered the Royal Australian Naval College in 1947. He served aboard HMAS Sydney during the Korean War, for which he was awarded the Korea Medal and United Nations Service Medal for Korea. He was an officer on HMS Battleaxe, during the 1959-1960 Cyprus and Iceland emergencies (also known as the "Cold Wars"). He was awarded the National Medal in 1977 for "diligent long service to the community in hazardous circumstances, including in times of emergency and national disaster, in direct protection of life and property". ^[2] A clasp was added in 1978. ^[3] He commanded several RAN ships, including HMA Ships Queenborough, Torrens, Supply and Melbourne. Martin was promoted to Flag rank in 1982. On 26th January 1985, the Queen appointed David Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) 'for service as the Chief of Naval Personnel and flag officer Naval Support Command'. ^[4] He retired from the RAN in February 1988. David was created Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG) in 1988, ^[5] shortly before being appointed the Governor of New South Wales. He was awarded the Defence Force Service Medal with forty-year federation star.

Governor

Sir David Martin may only have been in office as the governor of New South Wales from January 1989 until his death some twenty months later, but he made an impressive contribution in that time. As Governor of New South Wales Sir David was chairman, trustee, patron and supporter of a range of community services and charitable organisations and was able to view first hand, the hardships that were being faced by many Australians. He reached out to as many young people as he could, encouraging them to develop their undiscovered potential. He was created Knight of Justice of the Venerable Order of St John of Jerusalem (KStJ) in 1989. At his funeral, the Premier of New South Wales, the Honourable Nick Greiner, noted: "With the sad passing last week of Sir David Martin, Australia lost one of its most distinguished citizens. After a proud career of public service with the Royal Australian Navy, Sir David made the Office of Governor of New South Wales extremely accessible." In arranging the 1989 presentation of The Boys' Brigade Queen's Badges, I sat with Sir David for over two hours in what was intended to be a twenty-minute briefing. There was no pretence, no airs, but at the same time a proper formality. He simply 'oozed' confidence, with humour, and both listened and spoke at length about the Brigade's and his visions to assist and provide development opportunities for young men and women. Ken Evans

Family

David Martin married Suzanne Millear (later Lady Martin) on 5th January 1957 in All Saints Church of England (now Anglican Church), Willaura, Victoria. ^[6] The couple had three children: Sandy, Anna, and William. Anna works with the Sir David Martin Foundation, keeping her father's legacy alive. William is a career Officer in the RAN, continuing the excellent Naval heritage of the Johnston / Murray / Martin family. For her dedicated work with the Sir David Martin Foundation since her husband's passing, Lady Martin was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the Queen's Birthday Honours of 2011.

Heritage

Martin came from a long line of naval officers. He was a great great great grandson of Lieutenant Colonel George Johnston, a Royal Marine Officer of the First Fleet and Commanding Officer of the New South Wales Corps when it mutinied against the King's government, and the convict Esther Abrahams. Their son Robert Johnston was the first Australian-born person to enlist in the Royal Navy, which he joined in 1805. In 1942, when David was nine years old his father, William Martin, was lost in action in the sinking of HMAS Perth, of which he was a Commander.

Legacy

Knowing that he did not have much longer due to the cancer, Sir David established the Sir David Martin Foundation to assist young Australians in crisis. He had long harboured a heart for helping Sydney's and Australia's youth. Lady Martin, in an interview regarding her own award of the OAM, said of her late husband: "He was always a caring man and a great father and loved the navy and was good at the job. But when he had a job in Sydney he went around with Missionbeat at night and was amazed and frustrated at seeing the age of the children on the street. He could not believe it.

Woollahra Council have named the park built on the site of HMAS Rushcutter the Sir David Martin Memorial Park.

One of Sydney's catamaran ferries is named in his honour.

Sources

1. ↑ New South Wales Death Index #16391/1990
2. ↑ It's an Honour: David James Martin, National Medal; accessed 19 Mar 2018
3. ↑ It's an Honour: David James Martin, clasp to National Medal; accessed 19 Mar 2018
4. ↑ It's an Honour: David James Martin AO; accessed 19 Mar 2018
5. ↑ It's an Honour: David James Martin KCMG; accessed 19 Mar 2018
6. ↑ Victoria Marriage Index #3013/1957

See also

• Jones, Peter D. Martin, Sir David James (1933–1990). Australian Dictionary of Biography. National Centre of Biography, Australian National University; accessed 19 Mar 2018.
• Navy: Rear Admiral Sir David James Martin; accessed 5 Jan 2022.
• Wikipedia: David Martin (Governor); accessed 19 Mar 2018.