
Obituary for Warrant Officer Class 2 Sam Martin
Sam Martin joined the Army in 1970 and completed his training at the Depot the Queens Division. Shortly after training and leave he was posted to the Poacher’s in Munster, BAOR.
As a member of 1 Platoon A Company in 1972 it wasn’t long before he and the rest of the Battalion were patrolling the streets of West Belfast and in Sam’s case the Lower Falls.
The following year the Poachers returned to Northern Ireland but this time in Londonderry. By 1974 Sam was a Corporal and was sent back to the Depot Queens Division as an Instructor firstly training Junior Soldiers and then Adults. Rejoining his Battalion in Gillingham he was promoted to Seargent and along with the Poachers deployed to Berlin for 2 years. Having left the Army for 10 months Sam rejoined the Poachers becoming the Provost Sgt for a short time before being posted to the Anti-Tank Platoon.
The 2nd Battalion were the posted to Colchester for 4 years and it was there that Sam along with the rest of his platoon rerolled into the new anti-tank guided weapon system called MILAN. During the 4 years stationed in Colchester Sam completed a UN tour of Cyprus. 2 years with 5 R ANGLIAN in Peterborough and 6 months with the Australian Army on Exercise Long Look.
Sam’s final posting with Poacher’s was in Celle West Germany during what was know as the Cold War. He then finished his time with the Army as the Senior Permanent Staff Instructor with 7 R ANGLIAN in Lincoln before settling in the local area. Sam Martin will be remembered by many as a larger than life character, a first class soldier and Warrant Officer who was well liked and respected by all those he served with.