Hero of the Month - April 2025

Published in Britain at War - April 2025

Admiral Sir Martin Eric Dunbar-Nasmith VC, KCB, KCMG

Admiral Sir Martin Dunbar-Nasmith was widely regarded as the most daring and skilled submariner of the Great War. When he was invited by Roger Keyes (later Lord Keyes), then Chief of Staff to the commander of the Royal Navy squadron off the Dardanelles, to “go and run amok in the Marmora”, Nasmith did not need a second invitation.

Martin Eric Smith was born on April 1 1883 – April Fool’s Day – in East Barnes, then in the county of Surrey. He was the eldest son of Martin Nasmith, a wealthy stockbroker, and his wife Caroline. The couple’s two other sons also served during World War One and, like their eldest brother, both were decorated for their courage.

Nasmith was educated at Eastman’s College, Winchester. His distinguished Royal Navy career began in May 1898 when, aged just 15, he entered HMS Britannia. In September 1899, he was promoted to Naval Cadet serving in HMS Renown before another promotion in February 1900 saw him elevated to the rank of Midshipman. Three years later, in February 1903, Nasmith was promoted to Sub Lieutenant.

His submarine training began in July 1904 when he was sent to the depot ship HMS Thames in Portsmouth. In May 1905, Nasmith was promoted to Lieutenant, and, within less than two months, he received his first command, HM Submarine A4. The first blip to his career – and it was a major one too – came in October 1905 when the wash from a passing steamer spilled through the submarine’s open ventilators. She only surfaced just in time to save the boat and her crew. Nasmith was court martialled but escaped with a reprimand. In the run-up to the Great War, he continued to impress serving exclusively in submarines with the exception of a 15-month-stint in HMS Indomitable, an armoured cruiser.

Perhaps his most important role during this time came from August 1912 when he was based in Fort Blockhouse, the Navy’s submarine depot in Gosport, Hampshire, where he was involved in the training of submarine officers. It was during this year’s service that he was credited with making British submarines and those serving in them more innovative. In May 1913, in recognition of his excellent work, he was promoted to Lieutenant Commander. In August 1914, he moved to Harwich, Essex, to command the new E11, which was commissioned the next month.

The start to Nasmith’s war was slower than he would have liked. In October 1914, E11, along with two other E-class submarines, went to the Baltic. However, Nasmith and his crew had to abort their operation due to mechanical problems. In December of the same year, he suffered another setback when the torpedo he fired at an enemy battleship passed directly underneath without causing any damage. Blaming himself for the near-miss, Nasmith, who was known to his crew as “Nazims”, vowed not to touch either alcohol or cigarettes until he had sunk an enemy ship.

The Sea of Marmora (sometimes spelled “Marmara”) is an inland sea located entirely within the borders of modern-day Turkey. It connects the Black Sea to the Aegean Sea via the Bosporus and Dardanelles straits. Nasmith’s run of bad luck ended when he was dispatched there and given a relatively free rein on when and where to strike.

His first sinking took place on May 23 1915 when he destroyed the enemy’s torpedo gunboat, Pelenk-i-Dria, in shallow water off Istanbul, in the process learning another lesson. There was such delight among the crew that the periscope was left up for too long to view the sinking. This enabled the gunner of the sinking enemy ship to fire a shot that hit the water so close to the submarine that it damaged its periscope.

Nasmith’s VC action took place from May 20 to June 8 and his citation, published in The London Gazette on June 25 1915, stated: “For most conspicuous gallantry in command of one of His Majesty’s Submarines while operating in the Sea of Marmora. In the face of great danger, he succeeded in destroying one large Turkish gunboat, two transports, one ammunition ship and three storeships, in addition to driving one storeship ashore. When he had safely passed the most difficult part of his homeward journey, he returned again to torpedo a Turkish transport.”

Nasmith’s two officers were awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) for their part in the first patrol to Marmora and his crew were each awarded the Distinguished Service Medal (DSM).

In fact, this final sinking related to a coal-carrying ship which, when it came into sight of the docks at Constantinople (now Istanbul), drew an enthusiastic “welcoming committee” because water, electricity and rail transport had all suffered due to a lack of coal. The ship had barely berthed when it blew up before the eyes of the astounded crowd. Nasmith and his crew successfully slipped out of the area again having achieved an incredible and daring strike. In fact, as it left the area, E11 snagged a Turkish mine which it towed for several miles before freeing itself.

The second of Nasmith’s three patrols to the Sea of Marmora took place from August 5 to September 3 1915. During this four-week period, he destroyed an elderly battleship, a gunboat, six transports, a steam ship and 23 sailing vessels.

His final patrol was, without question, his most daring because it lasted for 47 days during November and December 1915 – this was the longest operation by a single submarine in Marmora. During this patrol, Nasmith and his crew sank or disabled five large and three small sailing vessels, along with an Ottoman destroyer, Yar Hissar. In addition, he launched a second attack on Constantinople harbour, sinking a large steamer.

Nasmith received his VC from the George V at an investiture at Buckingham Palace on January 15 1916. In fact, he had met the King before because in May 1912, while inspecting fleet manoeuvres off Weymouth, George V expressed a desire to dive in a submarine. The one chosen was HM Submarine D4, then in the command of Lieutenant Nasmith. The King, in the words of The Times newspaper at the time, “made a lengthy run in her when she was submerged”.

However, there was a feeling that Nasmith’s bravery in his second and third patrols was not fully recognised. Some thought he deserved a Bar to his VC, others at the very least the DSO and Bar. Instead, in April, he was made a Knight of the French Legion of Honour and, two months later, he was promoted to become the youngest Captain in the Royal Navy, aged just 33.

By any standards, Nasmith and his crew had enjoyed an incredibly successful eight months at sea up to the end of 1915 but it was then time for him to spend time in the United Kingdom. He took part in several North Sea patrols before, in February 1917, taking command of the 3rd Flotilla’s six D-boats in the Firth of Forth. He had further submarine commands before the end of the Great War in November 1918.

His immediate post-war role, which he has taken up in September 1918, was to command the 7^th Flotilla, including time spent in the Baltics in 1919. He was made a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) in March 1920 and the following month he married Beatrix Dunbar-Dunbar-Rivers, the daughter of Royal Navy Commander Harry Dunbar-Dunbar-Rivers.  It was at this point, too, that Nasmith decided to change his own surname to Dunbar-Nasmith. The couple went on to have a daughter and two sons.

From 1921-3, he was given the command of HMS Iron Duke and he was Flag Captain to the Commander-in-Chief Mediterranean. From 1926-9, he was captain of Royal Navy College, Dartmouth, during part of this time also acting as Aide-de-camp to the King. He was promoted to Rear Admiral in 1928 again one of the youngest to achieve such high rank. From 1929-31, he commanded the Submarine Service.

In October 1932, Dunbar-Nasmith was promoted to Rear Admiral and from 1932-4 he was Commander-in-Chief, East Indies Station. Dunbar-Nasmith was also knighted in 1934. From 1935-8, he served as Second Sea Lord, being promoted to the rank of Admiral in January 1936.

His service continued into World War Two in the role of Commander-in-Chief Plymouth and the Western Approaches from 1938-41. He officially retired in 1942 but was employed in the Officers Active List for four more years in the role of Flag Officer-in-Charge, London.

Holding the rank of Admiral in retirement, he had more time for his hobbies – sailing, skiing and forestry – but he also took on the role of vice-chairman of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. He was also Deputy Lieutenant and, later, Vice-Lieutenant of Morayshire, where he lived with his wife in his later years. He was created a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George in 1955, while his wife served as Deputy Superintendent-in-Chief of the St John Ambulance Brigade.

Dunbar-Nasmith died at Dr Gray’s Hospital, Elgin, on June 19 1965, aged 82. His death came almost 50 years to the day after his actions in the Dardanelles. He was buried at Holy Trinity Churchyard, Elgin. A road, Nasmith Close, is named in his honour in Gosport and there is a plaque in his honour at Trincomalee Naval Base, Sir Lanka. The whereabouts of his medal group are not known.

In April 2015, a blue plaque was unveiled at his birthplace in Barnes, west London. In June of the same year, a paving stone was laid in his home town of Rothes to mark the centenary of his VC. Sir Martin’s grandson, Duncan Dunbar-Nasmith, who was just seven years old when his grandfather died, said at the time: “It has become clear to me how interested people are in my grandfather’s achievements. He is still revered by the Royal Navy’s submarine service.

“It only began in 1901 so everyone was still finding their way during World War I – and many of the innovations he designed are still used to this day. Every year I give a talk to recruits at Faslane who still see him as an inspiration. Moray became his home and he was very involved in the local community – the commemoration event will be a proud day for the family.”

Dunbar-Nasmith’s two brothers were Major Reginald Nasmith DSO, MC, who survived the Great War, and Captain Arthur Nasmith DSO, who was killed at the Battle of Arras in April 1917. Furthermore, one of Martin Dunbar-Nasmith’s two sons served with distinction in the Royal Navy, retiring as Rear Admiral David Dunbar-Nasmith, CB, DSC, RN.

In World War One, modern submarines were in their infancy and there is no doubt that Sir Martin Eric Dunbar-Nasmith, VC, KCB, KCMG, was one of the world’s most accomplished and bravest first-generation submariners.

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