A Scottish Life: Sir John Martin, Churchill and Empire

The working life of Sir John Martin (1904-1991), which is the subject of this book, was based on the Colonial Office, serving his belief that colonial rule was one of the best British gifts to the world . Through his eyes, readers are given a detailed picture of work at the centre of some of the most important events in modern British history, including World War II and the end of empire. Four years after entering the Colonial Office, Martin was seconded for three years’ field service in Malaya, and attended the Bangkok Opium Conference, and in 1936 he was called to serve as Secretary to the Palestine Royal Commission. In 1940 he went to 10 Downing Street as Churchill’s Private Secretary, where from 1941-45 he was Principal PS with management of the Private Office. After the war, in senior positions in the Colonial Office he was in Malaysia, central Africa, Palestine, Cyprus and Malta, working towards decolonization. It also fell to Martin to represent British colonial policy at the new United Nations. For his last two years before retirement he was High Commissioner for Malta. The book offers insights into the background to all these events and the personalities involved.