Harold Eycott-Martin

Harold Ross Eycott-Martin was born in Upper Norwood, London.1901 England Census1911 England Census He was the eldest son. His father was a civil servant in Bechuanaland. His mother's home residence in England was Lindfield, West Sussex, near Haywards Heath.{{cite journal |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1919/1919%20-%200480.html |title=Personals: To be Married |issue=537 |volume=XI |page=480 |journal=Flight |date=10 April 1919 |accessdate=3 December 2014 }}

Eycott-Martin was commissioned on 27 October 1915, at the age of 18, as a second lieutenant in the Royal Engineers from the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich.{{London Gazette |date=26 October 1915 |issue=29340 |page=10518 |nolink=yes}} After being seconded to the Royal Flying Corps, he was appointed a flying officer on 29 March 1917.{{London Gazette |date=17 April 1917 |supp=y |issue=30027 |page=3737 |nolink=yes}} In May 1917, he was posted to 41 Squadron in northern France.{{cite web |url= http://www.theaerodrome.com/services/gbritain/rfc/41.php |title=41 Squadron |work=The Aerodrome |year=2014 |accessdate=3 December 2014}} A week after joining the squadron, he crashed a Royal Aircraft Factory FE.8 during takeoff.Shores et.al. (1997), p.150. On 24 May 1917, Flight Newsletter reported Eycott-Martin had wounded, but no date was given for the wounding. It seems likely he was injured in the takeoff accident.{{cite journal |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1917/1917%20-%200499.html |title=The Roll of Honour |issue=439 |volume=IX |page=499 |journal=Flight |date=24 May 1917 |accessdate=3 December 2014 }} On 1 July 1917, Eycott-Martin was promoted to lieutenant in his home unit, the Royal Engineers.{{London Gazette |issue=30288 |date=17 September 1917 |pages=9626–9627 |supp=y |nolink=yes }}

On 7 February 1918, he was reassigned to 66 Squadron in Italy. In short order, he won his first two aerial victories. Then, on 30 March 1918, he and Alan Jerrard were wingmen to Peter Carpenter on the well-known occasion when Jerrard won his Victoria Cross. In that same action, Eycott-Martin was credited with two victories; on 5 April 1918, he was subsequently awarded a Military Cross for his role in this combat.Shores et.al. (1997), pp.98 & 150.

Eycott-Martin's victory string culminated at eight on 22 June 1918. On 13 July, he was temporarily promoted to captain; he almost certainly simultaneously became a flight commander.{{London Gazette |date=26 July 1918 |issue=30815 |page=8901 |nolink=yes}}

Eycott-Martin's MC was finally gazetted on 16 September 1918.{{cite journal |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1918/1918%20-%201050.html |title=Awarded the Military Cross |issue=508 |volume=X |page=1050 |journal=Flight |date=19 September 1918 |accessdate=3 December 2014 }} His citation read:

:Lt. Harold Ross Eycott-Martin, R.E., R.A.F.

:For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. In a patrol with two other machines he attacked nineteen of the enemy. Of the six enemy aircraft destroyed on this occasion he destroyed two. On two other occasions he destroyed an enemy machine.{{London Gazette |issue=30901 |date=16 September 1918 |page=10948 |supp=y |nolink=yes }}

{{See also|Aerial victory standards of World War I}}

Eycott-Martin remained in the Royal Air Force post-war, but had a turbulent career. On 17 January 1919, he reverted from temporary captain back to lieutenant.{{London Gazette |date=18 April 1919 |issue=31302 |page=5048 |nolink=yes}} From 27 January to 30 April, he was re-employed as a temporary captain.{{cite journal |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1919/1919%20-%200788.html |title=RAF Appointments: Flying Branch |issue=546 |volume=XI |page=788 |journal=Flight |date=12 June 1919 |accessdate=3 December 2014 }} On 27 June 1919, he was re-rated from lieutenant (Ad.) to lieutenant (A.){{London Gazette |date=15 July 1919 |issue=31458 |page=9002 |nolink=yes}} On 14 October 1919, he gave up his commission in the Royal Air Force; however, he retained his commission in the Royal Engineers.{{London Gazette |date=28 October 1919 |issue=31620 |page=13140 |nolink=yes}}

In the midst of this career turmoil, on 10 April 1919, it was announced that he was engaged to marry Muriel Horner. They were married at the parish church of St George Hanover Square on 12 June 1919.Marriage Certificate, City of Westminster Archives Centre

On 14 May 1920, Harold Ross Eycott-Martin—mistakenly characterised as still an RAF officer—was reported as residing at 9 Trebovir Road, Earls Court, London, as well as the Maiden Head Hotel, Uckfield, Sussex. This information was contained in a declaration of bankruptcy.{{London Gazette |issue=13595 |date=14 May 1920 |page=1262 |city=e }}{{London Gazette |date=4 June 1920 |issue=31929 |page=6289 |nolink=yes}}

On 10 May 1920, he arrived at New York City aboard the Philadelphia.New York, Passenger and Crew Lists (including Castle Garden and Ellis Island), 1820–1957

On 5 August 1920, Lieutenant Eycott-Martin was removed from the rolls of the Royal Engineers for being absent without leave.{{London Gazette |issue=32006 |date=4 August 1920 |page=8147 |supp=y |nolink=yes }} He then disappeared into the mists of history.

;Notes

{{reflist}}

• {{cite book |first1=Christopher F. |last1=Shores |first2=Norman |last2=Franks |authorlink2=Norman Franks |first3=Russell F. |last3=Guest |title=Above the Trenches: a Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915–1920 |location=London, UK |publisher=Grub Street |year=1990 |isbn=978-0-948817-19-9 |name-list-style=amp}}

{{wwi-air}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Eycott-Martin, Harold Ross}}

Category:1897 births

Category:British Army personnel of World War I

Category:British World War I flying aces

Category:Date of death missing

Category:Graduates of the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich

Category:Military personnel from the London Borough of Croydon

Category:People from Lindfield, West Sussex

Category:People from Upper Norwood

Category:Recipients of the Military Cross

Category:Royal Air Force officers

Category:Royal Air Force personnel of World War I

Category:Royal Engineers officers

Category:Royal Flying Corps officers