John Martin

Born in the Blythswood district of Glasgow, John Martin became a sergeant in the 9th Highland Light Infantry. He was an excellent rifle shooter and represented Scotland in The National, Mackinnon Shield, Elcho Shield, and Kolapore Cup on more than 40 occasions between 1892 and 1928. Individually, he had many successes at the annual Bisley Meeting, starting in 1893 when he won the Territorial Aggregate.

Over the years Martin won the Revolver Gold Medal in 1901, and other important Bisley wins included the Wimbledon Cup, all the newspaper-sponsored events, and the Stock Exchange trophy. Martin’s greatest moment, however, was in 1911 when he won the Grand Aggregate Gold Cross. His son Alexander won the same title in 1920, which was a memorable Bisley Meeting for the Martin family. John lifted the Hopton Cup match rifle championship and his brother Frederick Robert won the Canadian Rifle Team Aggregate. Another brother, Alex, was a member of the 1908 British Olympic shooting team alongside John.

It is little surprise that the Martins where excellent shots as their father Alexander was a Glasgow gunmaker of some repute. John became a partner in the family business and, in May 1915, the “Martin Sight”, which he had invented, was adopted for service by the British Army.