b. 24/04/1884 Sligo, Ireland. d. 05/01/1946 Sligo, Ireland.
Martin Joseph Moffat (1884-1946) was born on 24th April 1884 at Knappagh Road, Sligo, Ireland. His surname has also been seen spelt “Moffatt”, “Moffitt” and “Moffit”. His father, also Martin, married Bridget “Bessie” McDonagh on 24th February 1879 at Calry, Sligo. Martin senior was a fireman in a gas yard, and later a dock labourer. Martin junior had at least nine siblings, all born in Sligo.
Martin was educated at St Vincent’s National School, Sligo until 1900. He was a fireman aboard SS Effie Grey at Liverpool between 13th – 19th October 1906. He then worked as a local seaman and donkeyman on SS Sligo out of Sligo harbour. He was then involved in the strike that commenced on 8th March 1913, when seamen on board demanded more help or higher wages for handling cattle. The strike, in which one man was killed, lasted until 6th May.
Martin J Moffat VC
Martin enlisted with 6th Connaught Rangers at the outbreak of war. He carried out initial training at Kilworth Camp, County Cork and later moved to Fermoy, County Cork. Training was completed at Blackdown Camp, Deepcut, Hampshire and the Battalion sailed for France on 17th December 1915. He served on the Somme in 1916 and at Messines Ridge in June 1917. The Battalion suffered heavy casualties in the spring of 1918 and was reduced to a training cadre in April 1918. Five officers and 281 men, including Martin, were transferred to 2nd Leinster and served with them until the end of the war.
On 14th October 1918 near Ledeghem, Belgium, Private Moffat was advancing with five others across the open when they suddenly came under heavy rifle fire at close range from a strongly held house. Rushing towards the house through a hail of bullets, Private Moffat threw bombs and then, working to the back of the house, rushed the door, killing two and capturing 30 of the enemy.
The VC was presented by King George V in the quadrangle of Buckingham Palace on 12th June 1919. Martin followed Admiral of the Fleet Sir David Beatty and Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig, who were both receiving Order of Merits, and admitted he was in “all of a fluster” in such illustrious company. Sligo set up a testimonial fund and he was presented with £100 in War Bonds and £30 in cash. His Battalion presented him with an inscribed gold watch and a silver cigarette case bearing the regimental crest. He was also awarded the Belgian Decoration Militaire avec Croix de Guerre on 24th October 1919. He was demobilised in 1919 and became a Sligo harbour policeman, a job he held until a few days before his death.
Martin married Annie McNiffe in October 1921. They lived at 21 Emmet Place, Sligo. They had five children including Evelyn, Teresa, and Joseph. Martin attended the VC Garden Party at Buckingham Palace on 26th June 1920 and the VC Dinner at the House of Lords on 9th November 1929. One of the witnesses to his VC action was Father Moran, a Roman Catholic chaplain, whom he met again on 19th September 1934 on the ex-servicemen’s Pilgrimage of Peace to Lourdes, France. The two became firm friends. Six other VCs attended the Pilgrimage – John Caffrey VC, Robert Downie VC, Michael O’Leary VC, John O’Neill VC, John Ormsby VC and Alfred Wilkinson VC.
Martin tragically drowned at sea near Rosses Point, Sligo on 5th January 1946, just a week after losing his job with the harbour police. His body was found on 7th January on the beach at Bellyweelin, Rosses Point. An inquest heard that he had suffered from a weak heart and a verdict of “death from drowning” was recorded. There was no evidence to show how he entered the water. His funeral was held at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception and he was buried in the family grave in Sligo Town Cemetery. He is commemorated with a VC commemorative stone placed at Glasnevin Cemetery, Dublin on 11th November 2018, named on the Irish Regiments VC Memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum, Alrewas, Staffordshire, and his VC action features in Issues 638 and 1201 of the Victor Comic.
In addition to his VC, he was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal 1914-20, Victory Medal 1914-19 with Mentioned in Despatches oakleaf, Belgian Croix de Guerre and Belgian Decoration Militaire. The VC was auctioned by Christie’s on 21st October 1991 and was purchased by Lord Ashcroft. They are now part of the Ashcroft Collection being transferred to the National Army Museum, Chelsea. A replica set of his medals is displayed at the Sligo County Museum.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: LORD ASHCROFT COLLECTION.
BURIAL PLACE: SLIGO TOWN CEMETERY, COUNTY SLIGO, IRELAND.
