Name
Gordon Frank Melles
3 Sep 1885
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
06/11/1915
30
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lieutenant
Royal Field Artillery
H.Q. Staff. 2nd East Lancs. Bde.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ALEXANDRIA (CHATBY) MILITARY AND WAR MEMORIAL CEMETERY
Q. 542.
Egypt
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
Bengeo School Memorial – Location TBC, Men of Waltham Abbey WWI & 2, Waltham Abbey( 2235), Waltham Abbey, War Memorial Salen Isle of Mull
Pre War
Gordon Frank Melles was born on 3rd September 1885, in Sewardstone, Essex, to parents Joseph William and Mary (nee Roddick), he had one brother William Eugene and two sisters Margaret Mary and Doris Gracie Fraser.
In 1891 aged 5 he was living at Sewardstone, Waltham Holy Cross, Essex with his family. Gordon was educated at Bengeo School, Danesbury, Bengeo, Hertford, Eton (Mr Porter’s House) and Trinity Hall, Cambridge. He joined 5th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers (Territorial Force) as 2nd Lieut. on 29th September 1902.
Wartime Service
On the outbreak of war he volunteered for foreign service and was commissioned in 2nd East Lancs. Brigade Royal Field Artillery on 19th August 1914. He served with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force as Orderly Officer to the Brigade Commander. Gordon died of sickness in Alexandria while on active service.
Lieut. Colonel H. Sowler wrote “It is with the sincerest sympathy and deepest regret that I write to amplify my telegram of yesterday announcing the sad and sudden death of your son, Gordon. As a true and loyal comrade, he will be much missed by all his brother officers and by no one more than myself, who, in 15 months had learned to know and appreciate his many good qualities. His loss will be truly mourned by all who knew him and in particular by his brother officers and the N.C.O.’s and men of the brigade Headquarters Staff. I can’t tell you how very sincerely I miss Gordon, he was a real help to me."
Additional Information
Scottish Probate records his sometime residence as Gruline, Island of Mull, Argyllshire. His estate was valued at £582-2s- 3d. William Eugene served as a Major in France in Army Remount Service. Surviving until 1953.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Ann Hacke, Terry & Glenis Collins
