Forenames

Charles William AWMM

Surname

Melvill AWMM

Service number

WWI 15/35 AWMM

Gender

Male AWMM

Birth

5 Sept 1878 AWMM

War

• South African War, 1899-1902 AWMM
• World War I, 1914-1918 AWMM

Campaign

• South Africa AWMM
• 1914-1919 AWMM Western Front AWMM
• 1915-1916 AWMM Gallipoli AWMM
• 1918 AWMM Le Quesnoy AWMM

Armed force / branch

Army AWMM

Service number

WWI 15/35 AWMM

Military service

• Attached to New Zealand Forces, 1911-12 AWMM
• New Zealand Rifle Brigade, Egypt AWMM
• 4 New Zealand Rifle Brigade AWMM
• 1 New Zealand Infantry Brigade AWMM

Medals and Awards

• Companion of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (CB) AWMM
  CB citation: "For exceptionally good leadership on the 5th of April, 1918, at La Signy Farm in the Colincamps Sector, when, on his own initiative, he carried out with his Brigade a most successful attack, thereby securing all the high ground overlooking the British lines. This attack secured our defensive positions, and reduced casualties to a minimum during the following months. Throughout the Autumn Advance he handled his Brigade with great judgment and skill." (London Gazette, 3 June 1919, p6790, Rec No 3401) AWMM
• Companion of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) AWMM
  CMG citation: "This Officer commanded his Brigade, 1st N.Z. Infantry Brigade, at the taking of Gravenstafel Ridge, 4th October 1917. His work as a commander has been very good, and is well deserving of recognition." (London Gazette, 3 June 1918, p6454, Rec No 1939) AWMM
• Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) AWMM
  DSO citation: "For conspicuous ability and good work since the arrival of the Division in France in April. When the trenches around Armentieres, he organised and planned a very successful raid against the German trenches. His Battalion at all times has shown great keenness in their work and the credit of this is due to a large extent to his own example. During the advance and capture of Flers on the 13th September, Colonel Melvill again showed conspicuous ability and considerable military knowledge. After his Battalion had captured their objective and seeing the Battalion ahead of him held up, he at once sent forward a Company to assist and so enabled the trench to be captured. Throughout the operations he had a thorough grasp of the situation, and used his command with skill and judgement, sending up reinforcements at the critical moment." (London Gazette, 1 January 1917, p29, Rec No 358) AWMM
• Queen's South Africa Medal AWMM
• 1914 Star (5th Aug-22nd Nov 1914 clasp) AWMM
• British War Medal (1914-1920) AWMM
• Victory Medal with oak leaf AWMM
• Officier de l'Ordre de la Couronne (Belgium) AWMM
  Order de la Couronne (Officer) (Belgium) citation: "For personal gallantry in leading his Battalion in thet attack on Messines on June 7th 1917. His battalion fought their way through and cleared the greater part of the Village with great success under his personal Command." (London Gazette, 24 September 1918, p9862, Rec No 1018) AWMM
• Croix de Guerre (Belgium) AWMM
  Croix de Guerre (Belgium) citation: "For distinguished services rendered during the course of the campaign." (London Gazette, 11 March 1918, p3097) AWMM
• Mentioned in Despatches (MiD) Five Times AWMM
  1st MID citation: London Gazette, 4 January 1917, p262. 2nd MID citation: London Gazette, 28 May 1918, p6204, Rec No 2769. 3rd MID citation: London Gazette, 31 December 1918, p15230, Rec No 2769. 4th MID. citation: London Gazette, 11 July 1919, p8836; 5th MID citation amended: London Gazette, 12 January 1920, p531. AWMM
• Order de la Couronne (Officer) AWMM
  London Gazette 24 September 1917, p9862, Rec No 1018 For personal gallantry in leading his Battalion in the attack on Messines on June 7th 1917. His battalion fought their way through and cleared the greater part of the Village with great success under his personal Command. AWMM

Enlistment

• Pre WW1 1897 AWMM Regular soldier/Civilian AWMM
• WW1 10 Nov 1915 AWMM
  Age  37 AWMM

Embarkation details

• South Africa Second Lieutenant AWMM South Lancashire Regiment AWMM
• WW1 Captain/Military AWMM South Lancashire Regiment AWMM
  2nd Embarkation AWMM

Medical notes

Died of Disease, Cause of Death AWMM
Meningitis AWMM

Last rank

Inter War 21 Oct 1919 AWMM
Transferred to Reserve Forces AWMM
Major General/Military AWMM
Headquarters, New Zealand Forces AWMM

Death

15 Sept 1925 AWMM
Age  47 AWMM

Cause of death

Died of Disease AWMM

Cemetery

Karori Cemetery, Wellington, New Zealand AWMM

Related objects

External links

• Austin, W. (1924). The official history of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade (The Earl of Liverpool's Own). Wellington, L T Watkins. Digital copy
  http://www.nzetc.org/tm/scholarly/tei-WH1-NZRi.html
  Sources Used
• Military personnel file
  https://collections.archives.govt.nz/web/arena/search/#/entity/aims-archive/R20806164
  Further Reference
• National Archives of New Zealand, National Collection of War Art. Portrait.
  http://warart.archives.govt.nz/node/160
  Further Reference
• New Zealand History online. New Zealand in the South (Boer) War.
  https://nzhistory.govt.nz/war/south-african-boer-war/introduction
  Further Reference
• Charles Melvill, Wikipedia
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Melvill
  Further Reference
• Wikidata Entity
  http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q5080894
  Further Reference
• Te Papa Collection items http://collections.tepapa.govt.nz/Person/43201
  Public - Te Papa - 26 April 2015 - Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

References

• McDonald, W. (2013). Honours and Awards to the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in the Great War, 1914-1918. (3rd ed.). Hamilton, N.Z.: Richard Stowers.
• Taylor, A. (1998). The New Zealand roll of honour : New Zealanders who have served their country in peace and war : 150 years, 1845-1995. Auckland, N.Z.: Roll of Honour Publications.
• Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force. (1942). Nominal Roll Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force No. 5 (Embarkations from 1st July, 1941 to 30 September, 1941). Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer.
• Beattie, P.J. & Pomeroy, M. (2013-2020). Onward : portraits of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force (vols 1-5). Auckland, New Zealand: Fair Dinkum Publications
  Vol. 3: Includes portrait
• Stowers, R. (2009). Rough riders at war : history of New Zealand's involvement in the Anglo-Boer War 1899-1902 and information on all members of the 10 New Zealand contingents. Hamilton, N.Z.: R. Stowers.
• Harper, G., Clements, C., & Johns., R. (2019). For King and Other Countries: The New Zealanders Who Fought in Other Services in the First World War. Auckland, New Zealand: Massey University Press.
  p. 30-33, 63
• Austin, W. (1924). The official history of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade (The Earl of Liverpool's Own). Wellington, N.Z.: L T Watkins.
• The Le Quesnoy Campaign research was undertaken by the New Zealand Society of Genealogists as part of the development of New Zealand Liberation Museum - Te Arawhata (Le Quesnoy France). This research project was led by CJ Barbour (NZSG), BI Silvester, HH Farrant (NZMHS) with the support of NZSG volunteers (2022). The individuals included in this research dataset were identified as potentially having served in or around the wider Le Quesnoy campaign. Their presence at Le Quesnoy has not been individually verified in every case.