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World War 1 One ww1 wwII greatwar great 1914 1918 first battalion regiment
Ord.Sea. John Robert Meller
Royal Navy HMS Venerable
(d.12th Janu 1918)
John Robert Meller served on HMS Venerable and died age 28 on the 12th January 1918. He is remembered at Palmer Cenotaph, St. Paul's Church and is buried in Lyness Naval Cemetery on the Orkney islands near the large Naval Base at Scapa Flow.
- Entry from log of marine losses:
- Venerable, Harbour Service, Portland ex-pre-Dreadnought battleship.
- Meller, John R, Ordinary Seaman, J 70186 (PO), drowned.
John was born in Jarrow 1890, son of John Freer and Alice Whitwood Meller nee Bird of 17 Whiteburn Street, Hebburn Quay. In the 1911 census the family lived at 1 St John's Terrace with John(49) a butcher and his wife of 24 years Alice(50) who has had 3 children, two of whom survived. John(21)single, is a ships steward for Tyne Shipping Co., Dorothy(14) is at school. A neice, Gertrude Bird(28) single, is a household assistant.
Pte. Hugh Melling
British Army 16th Btn. Lancashire Fusiliers
from:Tarleton, Lancashire
(d.4th Nov 1918)
Hugh Melling died on 4th of November 1918, aged 19 and is buried in the Ors Communal Cemetery in France. He was the son of Thomas and Alice Melling of Hesketh Lane, Tarleton, Lancashire
L/Cpl. Adrian Mellody
British Army 11th Battalion Cheshire Regiment
from:Timms Lane, Formby
(d.3rd July 1916)
Adrian Mellody was killed on the 3rd of July 1916.
Pte. C. Mellon
British Army 24th (Tyneside Irish) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers
Pte. James Mellon
British Army 8th Btn. Black Watch
from:Dundee
(d.27th Sept 1915)
Pte. Patrick Mellon
British Army 2nd Btn. Royal Scots Fusiliers
from:Limonds Wynd, Ayr
(d.13th March 1915)
Patrick Mellon was my Great Uncle. I have no specific information except that my Mother always kept an 'In Memoriam' card in his memory. He was 36 years old when he was killed at Neuve Chapelle. He lived in Limonds Wynd, Ayr
Patrick P. Mellon
British Army 2nd Btn Royal Scots Fusiliers
from:Ayr Scotland
(d.13th Mar 1915)
L/Cpl Harry Mellor
British Army 9th Battalion Cheshire Regiment
from:Stockport
(d.27th March 1918)
Capt. John Percival Mellor
British Army 5th Battalion Dorset Regiment
from:Bournemouth
L/Sgt. George Meloy
British Army 1st Btn. East Kent Regiment
(d.19th Sep 1918)
I found my Great Great Uncle, George Meloy's war record and from there was able to establish where he was buried and made the trip to see his grave 100 years after he had died. No-one from our family had ever been in that time.
Pte. Thomas Shaw Melrose
British Army 51st Battalion Machine Gun Corps
from:Oldham, Lancashire
(d.21st March 1918)
Pte. Harold Melsom
British Army 12th Btn. Middlesex Regiment
from:Castle Combe, Wiltshire
(d.5th Jul 1916)
Harold Melsom was born in Castle Combe, Wiltshire, 18th July 1890 and baptised on 7th September 1890, St. Andrew's Parish Church, Castle Combe, Wiltshire. He was killed in action at Mametz Wood, near Albert, Somme, Northern France, Wednesday 5th July 1916 during the Battle of the Somme which commenced on 1st July 1916. He had formerly served as 14334 Hussars of the Line (probably 10th Royal Hussars (Princess of Wales Own)). He was unmarried and lived in Bybridge Cottages, Castle Combe, Wiltshire. His father George Melsom, born 1851, died 3rd December 1918 was a Plasterer and Tiler. His mother, Elizabeth Sarah Melsom formerly Tylee, born 1853, Market Lavington, died 10th March 1914. Haolds sblings were: Albert born 1882, died 13th March 1942. Frederick born 1883, Died 22nd May 1943, Vancouver, Canada. Ethel Eliza born 1886, died ?
Harold Melsom is buried at Dantzig Alley C.W.G.C. Cemetery, which is east of Mametz, Somme, Northern France, Dantzig Alley was originally the site of a German trench.
Harold had a friend, Private Reginald Stanley James, also from Castle Combe, who died of wounds on the Somme on 1st July 1916 aged 22. He was the son of Mr. F. and Mrs. E. James of Castle Combe. Reginald is buried at Dive Copse C.W.G.C. Cemetery, which is north of Sailly-le-Sec, Somme, which is 20km east of Amiens, Plot 2, Row A, Grave 15, once the site of a main dressing station commanded by an officer called Dive. The dressing station was located behind the Cross of Sacrifice. Reg enlisted with Harold at Bristol (then in Gloucestershire), his service number in the 10th Hussars is consecutive to Harold's being 14335, so it is very likely they served together in both regiments.
They were both members of the 12th Middlesex (Service) Regiment (Duke of Cambridge's Own) known as 'The Diehards'. The regiment was formed at Mill Hill, London in August 1914. Harold enlisted at Bristol, Gloucestershire. In May 1915 the regiment moved to Codford on Salisbury Plain for training with respect to the imminent move to France (Codford St. Mary and Codford St. Peter are situated just off the A36 between Warminster and Salisbury in Wiltshire).
The 12th Middlesex Regiment subsequently sailed to France landing at Le Havre on 26th July 1915. On the 1st January 1916 under the command of Lt. Col. H. P. Osbourne, the regiment was billeted at Meaulte which is south east of Albert. On the 8th January 1916, the 12th Middlesex Regiment moved forward to the front line taking over the trenches in the D1 sector south of Fricourt (east of Albert). On the 5th March 1916 the battalion moved via Corbie (east of Amiens)and Bray sur Somme (south east of Albert) relieving the 2nd Battalion of the Wiltshire Regiment in the A1 sector. Lt. Col. Osbourne had been evacuated sick, and his Second in Command, Major M. C. Scarborough took over temporary command of the Regiment. On the 2nd April 1916, Lt. Col. Osbourne returned to the regiment and re-assumed command.
On the the 11th June the Regiment entrained at Mericourt (north east of Amiens) for Picquigny (north west of Amiens) where they trained in specially constructed trenches. They returned to Grove Town, Meaulte on the 26th June 1916. On the 28th June at 08:15 p.m. the 12th Middlesex Regiment moved from Bray sur Somme to Carnoy, taking over the front line trenches north of the village from the 7th Battalion of the Bedfordshire Regiment. On the night of the 30th June at 10:30 p.m. the Regiment was itself relieved by the 11th Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers, and the 12th Middlesex returned to dugouts at Carnoy. When the Battle of the Somme commenced on 1st July 1916, the 12th Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment was therefore waiting in reserve.
The Commanding Officer at the time of Harold's death was Lt. Colonel Frank Maxwell V.C., C.S.I., D.S.O. (Victoria Cross, Companion of the Order of the Star of India, Companion of the Distinguished Service Order). He had taken over command of the 12th Middlesex Regiment on the 31st May 1916. Lt. Col. Maxwell had won the Victoria Cross at Sanna's Post during the South African Campaign (Boer War) on the 31st March 1900. When Frank Maxwell was appointed Commanding Officer of the 12th Battalion Middlesex Regiment, his personality exerted a tonic effect upon the morale and fighting qualities of the Battalion. In temperament, and in every other attribute, physical and mental, Lt. Col. Maxwell was fitted for the task assigned to him. There was a steely quality in his personal bravery that seemed accentuated by the almost studied tranquillity of his speech and general manner.
Frank Maxwell was killed by snipers whilst reconnoitring in No Man's Land near Ypres, Belgium on 21st September 1917. At the time of his death he was a Brigadier General in command of the 21st Infantry Brigade of the 9th Division. He was aged 46 and is buried at Ypres Reservoir C.W.G.C. Cemetery, north west of Ypres, Belgium, Plot 1, Row A, Grave 37. A memorial to Brigadier General Frank Maxwell can be seen in St. Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh. He was the son of Thomas Maxwell M.D. and Violet Sophia Maxwell and the husband of Charlotte Alice Hamilton Maxwell.
The 12th Middlesex Regiment was a volunteer regiment and part of Lord Kitchener's 'New Army'. Volunteers such as Harold received one shilling per day. Conscription was introduced in the U.K. in January 1916, but initially only for batchelors.
The 12th Middlesex Regiment was an infantry regiment and formed part of the 54th Brigade along with the 11th Battalion Royal Fusiliers, 7th Battalion Bedford, and the 6th Battalion Northampton Regiments. The 12th Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment was eventually disbanded on the 13th February 1919.
The 54th Brigade was part of the 18th (Eastern) Division, New Army, commanded by Major General F. I. (Ivor) Maxse.
The 18th Division Headquarters was at Carnoy, and the Division formed part of XIII Corps. The Officers commanding the XIII Corps were:
General Officer Commanding: Lt. General W. N. Congreve V.C. Brigadier-General General Staff: Brigadier-General W. H. Greenly. Brigadier-General Royal Artillery: Brigadier-General R. St. C. Lecky.
The XIII Corps in turn formed part of the Fourth Army. The Fourth Army Headquarters was at Querrieux Chateau, which is north east of Amiens. The Officers commanding the Fourth Army were;
General Officer Commanding: General Sir Henry Seymour Rawlinson Bt. K.C.B. K.C.V.O. Major-General General Staff: Major-General A. A. Montgomery. Deputy-Adjutant and Quartermaster-General: Major-General H. C. Holman. Major-General Royal Artillery: Major-General C. E. D. Budworth. Chief Engineer: Major-General R. U. H. Buckland. Deputy-Director Signals: Colonel R. G. Earle.
The Commander in Chief of the British Army in France was General (later Field Marshall 1st Earl Haig of Bemersyde) Sir Douglas Haig. His Chief of Staff was Lt. General Sir Launcelot E ('Kigg') Kiggell, and the Major General of the Royal Artillery was Major General J. F. N. Birch. The General Headquarters for the British Expeditionary Force in France was at Montreuil near Etaples/Le Touquet. A statue still stands in the Town Hall Square at Montreuil, of General Haig on horseback, commemorating the fact that his General Headquarters were based in the town throughout the war.
The objective of the 18th Division at the Battle of the Somme which commenced on the 1st July 1916 was to capture a German trench called 'Montauban Alley' which ran to the rear and south of the village of Montauban. The Corps heavy artillery, combined with that of the French Corps on the right, was greatly superior to that of the Germans in this sector, by a ratio of nearly four to one. The course of the artillery barrage laid down that day would practically destroy the German Artillery.
On the 1st july 1916 the Battalion had a strength of 21 officers and 820 other ranks. The Second in Command to Lt. Col. Maxwell was Major M. C. Scarborough. the four Company Commanders were:
- A Company Captain L. H. Methuen
- B Company Captain G. L. Harrisan
- C Company Lieutenant A. E. West
- D Company Captain A. C. Davies
Saturday the 1st July dawned a very hot day. No smoke was laid down to cover the advance of the British Infantry. On the front of the 18th Division, two mines below the enemy's front trench at la Boiselle were fired at 07:27 a.m., while a flame-thrower had been set up to assist the assault on the right. At Zero hour the attacking battalions crossed No Man's Land against some opposition, running up against the main German resistance at their support trench and the castle. Fighting all the way, the infantry of the 18th Division pushed the Germans back trench by trench in a series of battles involving grenades, machine guns and bayonets.
By 08:30 a.m. most of the division's first objectives had been taken, but the enemy was stubbornly resisting in the centre. Nevertheless, an attack on the Pommiers Redoubt was launched, and this was taken after fierce hand-to-hand fighting.
The parties of German troops holding up the centre of the 18th Division's assault were by now becoming aware of the situation on their flanks, which had been well turned. Some began to fall back, some to surrender, but some remained to fight. Trench by trench the British advanced, until by late afternoon contact had been established with the 30th Division, and the whole of the 18th Division objective had been captured.
The day's fighting had cost XIII Corps just over 6000 casualties, but mercifully it was possible to evacuate the wounded speedily. Most of the wounded of the 18th Division were taken back to the village of Carnoy, and the village square was used as a casualty clearing station.
Throughout the first day of battle, the 12th Battalion Middlesex Regiment had been kept in dugouts in Carnoy. At 08:30 p.m. Lt. Col. Maxwell moved up to the Battalion Headquarters at Piccadilly in the old British front line. At 12:45 a.m. the Middlesex Regiment moved up into the forming-up trenches. Shortly afterwards crossing No Man's Land to the old German front line.
The Companies took up the following positions: A and B Companies each had two platoons in Bund Trench, and A Company two more platoons in Emden Trench on the right of the Triangle, and B Company had two more platoons in the same trench, but on the left of the Triangle; C company was in Austrian Support Trenches, and D Company in Austrian front line.
The enemy's barrage was still falling, but it was weak and not very accurate. On Companies taking up their positions, they began consolidating. The hostile trenches were much damaged and in places obliterated. Dead Germans were everywhere, and some prisoners taken from dugouts were obviously much shaken and almost incoherent. At this point one officer, 2nd Lieutenant R. H. Hudlestone was killed, two other officers wounded, three other ranks killed, 27 wounded and four missing.
There was little activity on Sunday 2nd July and the British Divisions were able to reorganize and reinforce as well as pushing forward supplies and ammunition.
During the daylight hours of the 2nd July, the 12th Middlesex Regiment remained in the same positions. At 08:30 p.m. the Battalion was ordered to relieve the 11th Royal Fusiliers in the advanced trenches. Companies took up the following postions: A Company in White Trench, B and C Companies in Beetle Alley, and D Company in Maple Trench from the junction of Black Alley to Strong Point No. 5 inclusive. Lt. Col. Maxwell's headquarters were in Black Alley. The relief was completed by about 01:30 a.m. on Monday 3rd July. Casualties that day were one officer and four other ranks wounded. The 12th Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment was now south of Caterpillar and Mamtez Woods.
XIII Corps spent Monday 3rd July in consolidation. Patrols discovered Bernafay Wood to be still undefended, and at 09:00 p.m. supported by a 20 minute barrage, two battalions of the 9th Scottish Division, New Army, entered and took possession of the wood. Throughout the 3rd July the 12th Middlesex Regiment remained in the same positions, all Companies consolidating the line. In the evening B and C Companies set to work to dig a communication trench between White Trench and Beetle Alley. The enemy shelled both the latter trenches during the day, but his shell fire was weak and not very effective: 2nd Lieutenant Souster and two other ranks were wounded. At night D Company was withdrawn from Maple Trench and took over Strong Points from the 6th Northamptonshire Regiment.
The weather, which had been fine apart from the occasional thunderstorms, broke on Tuesday 4th July. Heavy rain filled the trenches and turned tracks into quagmires. The shell torn ground absorbed the downpour, melting tracts of marshland. The 4th of July passed without incident, but during the evening the dispositions on the Companies were again slightly altered: A Company remained in White Trench, B Company was in Montauban Alley, between Caterpillar Trench, and Pommiers Redoubt, with four strong points in the Caterpillar Trench, one at the junction of Loop Trench and Montauban Alley and one at White Trench. These posts were garrisoned with one Vickers gun and section.
Caterpillar Wood, reported empty by the Royal Flying Corps, was occupied by the 18th Division on the 4th July and the division also recovered five abandoned German field guns while taking possession of a section of enemy trench near the wood. C Company, 12th Middlesex Regiment was in Caterpillar Wood with two sections and one Vickers gun. D Company was in Pommiers Trench with a strong point at the loop. By nightfall troops of the 18th Division had occupied Marlboro Wood, 500 yards beyond Caterpillar Wood. The 12th Middlesex now held part of the 53rd Brigade front as well as the front line of their own Brigade, the 54th.
According to the official regimental history of the 12th Battalion the Middlesex Regiment, 'Diehards in the Great War', a copy of which is available for reading at the Imperial War Museum, Wednesday 5th July, the day Harold Melsom was killed, was a quiet day with little enemy action. Only the occasional enemy shell bursting overhead, though hostile shelling was at times heavy. Patrol work was carried out each night. It is though at present that Harold was killed by an enemy shell or shrapnel. It may be possible to learn more on our visit to the cemetery in France. Often in a book kept at the cemetery, a description is given of how the person died and also can often be found a personal message from the next of kin. Next of kin were also permitted a single line message on the headstone and again it will be interesting to see if this was done.
The Middlesex Regimental museum at New Malden in Surrey was closed in 1992 on the death of the curator (information can be obtained on 0181 949 7605). All artifacts were transferred to the National Army Museum in Chelsea where several showcases are dedicated to the Middlesex Regiment. Other items of interest have been spread throughout the museum.
The Middlesex Regiment was amalgamated in 1966 to form the Queen's Regiment with other home counties regiments. This was also later amalgamated to form The Princess of Wales Royal Regiment based at Howe Barracks, Canterbury, Kent. The Regimental museum is at Dover Castle and a display here includes several items from the Middlesex Regiment. However there are few items of interest.
Pte. John Robert Melton
British Army 1/14th Btn. London Regiment
from:Ilford, Essex
Robert Melton enlisted with the 1/14th Battalion London Regiment on 2nd August 1917. He was posted to the Western Front and saw action at the Battle of Langemarck in Belgium. Later, he was posted to the Cambrai salient and his division were involved in diversionary operations at Mouevres. The unit was then moved to the Somme valley during the winter of 1917/18.
He was diagnosed with Trench Fever on 21st of February 1918 and sent to No.42 Casualty Clearing Station close to the village of Aubigny. He was transferred to the Birmingham War Hospital on 2nd of March 1918. After a period of recuperation, he was sent to Shoreham Camp and served the remainder of the was in the Army Pay Corps.
Pte. Abert Melville
British Army 1st Btn. Northumberland Fusiliers
(d.16th Jun 1915)
Albert Melville enlisted in Newcastle and served with the 1st Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers. He died age 28 on the 16th June 1915 and is remembered at Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial. His medal card shows the award of the 1914 Star, War and Victory Medals.
Albert was born in East Jarrow 1884(?). Am unable to find family with brothers in Jarrow. Nearest fit is family in Wallsend with mother Mary(35) born in Kenton Dumbartonshire, (husband not on form must be away that day), James(14) born in Kenton, Dumbartonshire, an office boy, Albert(10) born in Byker, David (5) born in Wallsend and Janet (1) born in Wallsend. His older brother James was also one of the fallen.
L/Cpl. Alexander Melville
British Army 1st Battalion Royal Scots
from:Alyth, Perthshire
(d.27th Mar 1915)
Alexander Melville was born in Alyth, Perthshire. He died of Wounds and is buried in Aldershot Military Cemetery.
The Glasgow Herald reported on the 30th of March 1915: "Mr Andrew Melville, Bank Street, Alyth, received word yesterday from a Red Cross hospital that his son Alexander had died on Saturday. Alexander Melville was a member of the Royal Scots and came with the Indian contingent for the war. He visited his parents at the beginning of the year."
Pte. Herbert Stuart Melville
British Army 8th Btn. Cheshire Regiment
from:Stockport
(d.26th Feb 1917)
Herbert S. Melville was my great-great-uncle. He died of his wounds in Mesopotamia on 26th February 1917.
L/Cpl. James Melville
British Army 2nd Btn. Northumberland Fusiliers
from:Jarrow, Co Durham
(d.8th May 1915)
Cpl. James Melville
British Army 2nd Btn. Northumberland Fusiliers
(d.8th May 1915)
James Melville enlisted in Stratford, Essex and served with the 2nd Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers.He died age 30 on the 8th May 1915 and is remembered at Jarrow Library also on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial. His medal card shows the award of the 1915 Star, War and Victory Medals.
James was born in East Jarrow 1884(?). Am unable to find family with brothers in Jarrow. Nearest fit is family in Wallsend with mother Mary(35) born in Kenton Dumbartonshire, (husband not on form must be away that day), James(14) born in Kenton, Dumbartonshire, an office boy, Albert(10) born in Byker, David (5) born in Wallsend and Janet (1) born in Wallsend. His younger brother Albert was also one of the fallen.
Pte. Henry Charles John Melvin
British Army 2/19th (2nd St.Pancras) Battalion London Regiment
from:67 Queens Cresent, London
During the First World War Henry Melvin was attached to the 2/19th (St. Pancras) Battalion, London Regiment. On 30th of April 1918, during an attack on the Turkish position at Es Salt in the Jordan Valley he saved the life of his commanding officer Capt. Philip Egerton who had been shot in the knee. His Captain presented him with this engraved pocket watch.
Spr. Robert Melvin
British Army 102nd Field Coy. Royal Engineers
from:Jarrow
(d.31st Oct 1918)
Robert Melvin served in 102nd Field Company, Royal Engineers and died on the 31st October 1918. He is remembered at St. Paul's Church and is buried in Giavera British Cemetery Arcade. His medal card records the award of the 1915 Star,War and Victory Medals. He was also awarded the Military Medal for Gallantry.
Robert was born in Jarrow 1892, son of Robert and Annie Melville nee Dunleavy of 11 Dunn Street, Jarrow. In the 1911 census the family is living at that address with Robert(63) a dock labourer - shipbuilding and his wife of 23 years Annie(43). They had 10 children, 9 survived and all are single and living at home. James(22)a fruit merchants clerk, Robert(18) ships painter and Thomas(16) a rivetter heater. The remaining children are at or below school age, Mary Ann(11), Annie(8), Catherine(5), Julia(3) and Marie is 10 months old. His younger brother Thomas was also one of the fallen.
Sgt. Sidney Melvin MiD.
British Army 1st Btn Royal Scots Fusiliers
from:Shoreditch
Sidney Melvin was Mentioned in Dispatches according to the London Gazette of the 17th of February 1915, page 1661.
Spr. Thomas Melvin
British Army Durham Fortress Company Royal Engineers
(d.4th Nov 1918)
Thomas Melvin served in Durham Fortress Company, Royal Engineers and died on the 4th November 1918. He is remembered at St. Paul's Church and is buried in Jarrow Cemetery. His medal card records the award of the War and Victory Medals. It also records that he retired from the Territorial Force under Kings Regulations 1923 ref 8426/Adjutant. So he may have retired on medical grounds and died at home.
Thomas was born in Jarrow 1895, son of Robert and Annie Melville nee Dunleavy of 11 Dunn Street, Jarrow. In the 1911 census the family is living at that address with Robert(63) a dock labourer - shipbuilding and his wife of 23 years Annie(43). They had 10 children, 9 survived and all are single and living at home. James(22)a fruit merchants clerk, Robert(18) ships painter and Thomas(16) a rivetter heater. The remaining children are at or below school age, Mary Ann(11), Annie(8), Catherine(5), Julia(3) and Marie is 10 months old. His older brother Robert was also one of the fallen.
Walter Melvin
British Army 21st Btn. Northumberland Fusiliers
Pte. David Menarry
British Army 9th Btn. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
(d.1st Jul 1916)
Sgt. Maurice "Tony" Mendes
British Army 1/9th Btn. Middlesex Regiment
from:London
My father Maurice Mendes enlisted with the 1/9th Btn Middlesex Regt in August 1914 at Willesden, London. He sailed with the Btn for India in October 1914 on board the SS Dilwara arriving in October 1914. He was promoted to the rank of Sgt before taking a commission in the 1st Bn 103rd Mahratta Light Infantry where he served on the North West Frontier, returning to civilian life in late 1919 or early 1920.
He took a large number of photographs during his time with both the 1/9th Btn and later with the 103rd Mahratta Light Infantry. This photo album recently turned up, after many years when it was believed to have been irretrievably lost. I had the 65 pages (containing approx 250 images )professionally digitally photographed and am currently cooperating with a website owner in having selected photos put up on his website. www.king-emperor.com where some of these photos have already been put up on this website. It is a project in process and will be developed in due time.
I would be interested in having these images seen by all who may have an interest in the British Military during that period and perhaps collect material related to photos taken by my father, almost 100 years ago.
L/Cpl. Harry Christmas Mendham
British Army 2nd Btn. Essex Regiment
from:East Wretham, Norfolk
(d.3rd May 1917)
Pte. James William Mendham
British Army 10th Battalion, 1 Coy. Manchester Regiment
Efforts to access either a service record or pension record for James Mendham were unsuccessful, these were likely destroyed during the Second World War. According to his Medal Rolls Index Card, Service Medal and Award Roll Private Mendham served with the 1st Coy., 10th (Oldham) Battalion of the Territorial Force. Since he did not qualify for the 1914-15 Star, it is likely that He first served overseas with the 1/10th in Egypt in either 1916 or early 1917, on 6th of March1917, the 1/10th entered the French theatre at Marseille and was assigned to the 42nd (East Lancashire) Infantry Division and was engaged in the Third Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele), executed a fighting withdrawal during Germany's March 1918 Michael Offensive and then returned to the offensive in August 1918. The 1/10th took Hautmont, France on 6th of November 1918 after fierce hand-to-hand fighting and some improved bridge building, where it remained until the Armistice took effect.
One curiosity noted on his Service Medal and Award Roll is that he was listed as attached R.E. my assumption is that although he was an infantryman, based upon skills, he was locally transferred to an assigned R.E. unit. For his service in the Great War, Private James Mendham was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
Pioneer Frederick Louis Mengham
British Army 312th Road Construction Coy. Royal Engineers
from:Bedhampton, Hants.
(d.28 October 1917)
Frederick was born in 1886 in Bedhampton and married Sarah Jane Williams in 1910. At the beginning of the 1914-18 War he was working in the local brickyard a labourer.
He was called up in early 1917 to serve in the 312th Road Construction Coy., Royal Engineers and embarked for France on 18 February 1917. He was killed near Ypres on 28 October 1917 aged 31. Frederick was buried in the Ypres Reservoir Cemetery. He left a widow Sarah and a daughter Winifred under two years of age.
Pte. Roy Walter Mennell
British Army 10th Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment
from:York
(d.2nd Nov 1916)
The 10th West Yorks captured the Zenith Trench at Le Transloy Village on 1st November. My great uncle, Roy Mennell was killed the following day probably as a result of rifle, machine gun or artillery fire during daily routine as there were no recorded planned attacks on that day.
I am taking my daughter to the Thiepval Memorial this year to remember Roy Mennell on the 100th anniversary of his death.
Ella Menniss
British Red Cross
from:Whitchurch, Hants
My great grandmother, Ella or Ellen Menniss, was, according to records, a part-time cook on night duty working at Berehill House, an auxillary hospital in Whitchurch Hants in WW1 from Nov 1914 to Nov 1917.
Page 63 of 102
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