Kalfie Martin

Lieutenant-General Henry James "Kalfie" Martin SM CBE DFC (10 June 1910 – 20 October 2000) was a South African military commander.

Henry James Martin SM CBE DFC
Nickname(s)	Kalfie
Born	(1910-06-10)10 June 1910 Bloemfontein[1]
Died	20 October 2000(2000-10-20) (aged 90) Pretoria[2]
Allegiance	South Africa
Service/branch	South African Air Force
Years of service	1935 - 1968
Rank	Lieutenant General
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	Southern Cross Medal (SM) Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom) (DFC)
Other work	Author

Military career

He joined the South African Air Force in 1935 and played rugby union for his country in 1937.[2] During World War II, he commanded 3 Wing[3] in North Africa (1942-1943), and in 1945 he commanded 4 Group, which was responsible for transporting South African servicemen back home from Italy. He was CO of AFB Waterkloof from 1949 to 1951.[1]

He served as Quartermaster-General[4] from 1 December 1953 to 31 October 1959, Air Chief of Staff (1 May 1965 to 30 June 1966)[5] as Chief of the Air Force from 1 July 1966 to 30 November 1967, and as Chief of Defence Staff from 1 December 1967 to 31 December 1968.

Awards and Decorations

• Southern Cross Medal (SM)
• Union Medal
• Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)
• Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom) (DFC)
• 1939–45 Star
• Africa Star with NORTH AFRICA 1942–43 clasp
• War Medal 1939–1945
• Africa Service Medal (WWII)

See also

• List of South African military chiefs
• South African Air Force

References

1. Uys, Ian (1992). South African Military Who's Who 1452-1992. Fortress Publishers. p. 148. ISBN 0-9583173-3-X.
2. Harry Martin | Rugby Union | Players and Officials | ESPN Scrum
3. SWIFTER THAN EAGLES: A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN AIR FORCE 1912-1982 | Ward | Scientia Militaria - South African Journal of Military Studies
4. Nöthling, C.J.; Meyers, E.M. (1982). "Leaders through the years (1912-1982)". Scientaria Militaria. 12 (2): 95.
5. South African Defence Force Review 1991. Walker-Ramus. 1991. p. 261.

Military offices
Preceded by Toby Moll	Chief of Defence Staff 1967 – 1968	Vacant Title next held by Booysie van der Riet in 1972
Preceded by Barend Viljoen	Chief of the South African Air Force 1965 – 1967	Succeeded by Jacobus Verster
Preceded by HJ Bronkhorst	Quartermaster General South African Defence Force 1953 – 1959	Succeeded by JSJ van der Merwe
Preceded by Toby Moll	OC AFB Ysterplaat 1951 – 1952	Succeeded by AAD McKellar