The Brigade's Patron Saint Martin, much against his parents' wishes, began to follow Jesus when he was a young boy. He wanted to become a hermit and spend all his time learning about Jesus, but at the age of 16 years he was conscripted into the Roman Army. Having accepted his fate, he was determined to follow Christ in the army.

One winter's night, while he was serving with the army, he was on his way back to the barracks when he met a beggar shivering with the cold and half starved to death at the gate of Amiens, France. Having already given away all his money and food rations, Martin had only what he stood up in! He took off his thick army cloak, cut in two and gave half to the beggar, much to the amusement of the onlookers. That night in his dreams, Martin saw Jesus, surrounded by angels, wearing the half cloak he had given to the beggar, and he heard Jesus say, "See, this is the cloak which Martin has given me." Shortly afterwards Martin was baptised, but continued to serve in the Roman Army until he had completed his term of service.

After he had left the army he was ordained and, following many adventures, set up a community in Poitiers (France).

In 371 the Christians of Tours, much against his will, chose him as their new bishop and he remained there for twenty-six years, proving himself a champion of the under-dog and an unflagging and courageous missionary.

The Brigade was founded in 1891 on the 11th November, which is the feast day of St. Martin.