Born 1914 and son of Elias martin and Bernice Lansley (nee Waller) Martin. Captain of the ‘Pulo Soegi’. His early years are described in his old school magazine ‘The Taranakian’ December 1950, the magazine of New Plymouth Boys High School “… ARTHUR JOHN WALLER MARTIN. Lieutenant Arthur John Waller (Peter) Martin came to school from Moturoa in 1928 and remained until 1930. At school he showed interest in many things and was particularly good at games, taking a great interest in athletics. In April 1940 he was granted a commission in the NZRNVR (New Zealand Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve) with the rank of Temporary Lieutenant and left for Singapore in the same month to take up duties there. After extensive training around Malaya, he was promoted to Lieutenant in 1941. In January 1942 he was given command of a small reconditioned naval ship “Paula Soezi’ (sic) with a crew of three officers and thirty Malayans. His ship left Singapore on the night of February 13th and as far as details can be ascertained, the ship was blown up by a Japanese warship on 16th February 1942.” (Wikipedia). A newspaper article in 1942 titled “Reported Missing: Well known Yachtsmen” then filled out the story a little further “… Lieutenant A.J. Martin, who is listed as missing, is believed by his mother, Mrs B.I. Martin, of 18 Allenby Avenue, Devonport, to be safe. He was in command of a small naval vessel which left Singapore on February 13, with two other New Zealand officers and a crew of 30, and it is thought by other Dominion officers who have returned safely that the ship may have reached one of the outlying islands without interference. Lieutenant Martin, who was educated at the New Plymouth Boys’ High School, was a member of the senior Takapuna Rugby team and had acted as a forward hand of the Auckland yachts ‘Alpere’ and ‘Little Jim’ … “(‘The New Zealand Herald’, 20 .4.42). ‘Peter’ Martin was one of the men who volunteered for the RNZNVR in 1940 under the ‘Yachtsmen’s Scheme’ and the classic yacht ‘Little Jim’ had been launched in 1934 would have been one of the fastest ‘keelers’ sailing on Auckland Harbour prior to the War. It was restored to its former glory in 2009 and today still graces the waters of the Waitemata. Lt Martin was listed by T/Maj. Marsh, RAOC, who had been in command of the RAOC contingent on ‘Pulo Soegi’, in a post war report as in his view being one of the officers who landed in the ship’s boat on ’Radji Beach’ on the morning of the massacre. [Michael Pether, New Zealanders who died in Second World War-in the region of Singapore, Malaya, Dutch East Indies, and Burma/Thailand]
