Siegfried Martius

[Ken S.]

I came across a memorial to Siegfried Martius published in the Geologische Rundschau while searching for information about RIR118, which apparently has no regimental history. I found it interesting that he spent time in Canada so I thought I'd make a translation as my humble way of honouring him. There are a few parts that I am not sure about so I apologize if my translation is not correct; I'm more than happy to have them corrected.

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Siegfried Martius was born on 6 February 1887 in Bonn, the son of the university professor Dr. Götz MARTIUS and his wife MARGARETHE, nee BORSIG. He attended the Städtische Gymnasium in Bonn and, after his father's appointment to Kiel, the Königliche Gymnasium and Reform-Realgymnasium in Kiel, from which he graduated Easter 1907 with the Certificate of Qualification. Thereupon he devoted himself to the study of natural sciences at the Universities of Marburg and Bonn, and on 28 February 1912 in Bonn was awarded a Doctor of Philosophy for the thesis “Beiträge zu den Fragen nach der Ursprungsstelle der weißen Bimssteintuffe, dem Ursprungsort und der Entstehungsweise des Trasses,” after having passed the examination with the grade magna cum laude.

Following his doctoral exam, MARTIUS continued his studies at the University of Leipzig and on 1 April 1913, having returned to Bonn, became assistant at the Mineralogical-Petrological Institute. In the same year he participated in the International Geological Congress in Canada; the rocks that were collected during the subsequent excursion he generously transferred to the mineralogical museum at the University of Bonn.

On a trip undertaken to Italy with Herr Dr. TILMANN he visited, aside from the volcanic regions, the sites of Nephrite. The fruits of this trip he published in a study “Über anstehenden Nephrit im südlichen Apennin”.

In July 1914 MARTIUS was called up as a Reserve Lieutenant for a military exercise, during which the war broke out; he was transferred from the cavalry to the infantry, and took part in the campaign with Reserve-Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 118, first as a member of the HQ, then as a company commander, in which capacity he was mortally wounded by a gunshot to the chest on 23 October 1914 in the fighting by Ypres. He died the same day from his wounds, to the great sorrow of his parents, who shortly afterward lost a second son in the military service due to an accident, and is mourned by his friends, colleagues, and comrades.

Learning did not come easy to MARTIUS but with iron diligence he compensated for this short-coming. His dutifulness in the service, his purity of character, his untiring studiousness is a shining example for all. BRAUNS

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[Glenn2438]

Hi Ken,

interesting; Siegfried Martius was commissioned as a Leutnant d.R. (18.10.13) in the Leib-Dragoner-Regiment (2. Großherzoglich Hessisches) Nr. 24. According to the "Ehrenmal des preußischen Offizierkorps", he was killed at Prémesques (Lille) on 24 October 1914. That would certainly make sense as 25. Reserve-Division to which RIR 118 belonged was credited as being on operations at Lille at this time.

Regards
Glenn

[Ken S.]

Thank you for that, Glenn. The regimental history for that unit adds a little more information:

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http://www.denkmalprojekt.org/2014/vl_l ... -nr24.html



I forgot to include this with my original post:

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The other son may have been Götz Martius who died on February 23, 1915.
http://des.genealogy.net/search/show/1701050
http://www.denkmalprojekt.org/2013/kiel ... holst.html

[clickme]

Hi Ken,

I have been doing some research on RIR118 myself also and as such came across your post regarding Siegfried Martius. I actually have a letter from his mother to him dated 11-10-1914 so one of the last letters he might have received..

May I ask what triggered your research on RIR118?

Best regards,
Sven

[Ken S.]

That was a few years ago but as best as I can remember I was interested in RIR116 and reading the regimental history and was hoping there was something relating to RIR118 (and other units in the division) that could provide some addition information.

Hi Ken,

I have been doing some research on RIR118 myself also and as such came across your post regarding Siegfried Martius. I actually have a letter from his mother to him dated 11-10-1914 so one of the last letters he might have received..

May I ask what triggered your research on RIR118?

Best regards,
Sven