Victoria Cross Group to Reverand Edward Noel Mellish
Edward Noel Mellish VC MC DL (24 December 1880 – 8 July 1962) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
On the outbreak of the First World War Mellish was assistant curate at St Paul's, Deptford. He offered his services to the chaplaincy and served from May 1915 until February 1919. Just a few months after this his brother Second Lieutenant Richard Coppin Mellish was killed in action whilst serving with the 1st Middlesex Regiment at the Battle of Loos on 25 September 1915. Reverend Mellish was attached to the 4th Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers in Ypres Salient in 1916 and it was then during the first three days of the Actions of St Eloi Craters, 27 to 29 March 1916, that he performed the actions for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross. He was the first member of the army chaplaincy to win the VC in the First World War.
He was 35 years old, and a chaplain in the Army Chaplains' Department, British Army during the First World War when the following deeds took place for which he was awarded the VC.
The citation reads:
"For most conspicuous bravery. During heavy fighting on three consecutive days he repeatedly went backwards and forwards, under continuous and heavy shell and machine-gun fire, between our original trenches and those captured from the enemy, in order to tend and rescue wounded men. He brought in ten badly wounded men on the first day from ground swept by machine-gun fire, and three were actually killed while he was dressing their wounds.
The battalion to which he was attached was relieved on the second day, but he went back and brought in twelve more wounded men.
On the night of the third day he took charge of a party of volunteers and once more returned to the trenches to rescue the remaining wounded.
This splendid work was quite voluntary on his part and outside the scope of his ordinary duties."[
Victoria Cross Group to Reverand Edward Noel Mellish
Edward Noel Mellish VC MC DL (24 December 1880 – 8 July 1962) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
On the outbreak of the First World War Mellish was assistant curate at St Paul's, Deptford. He offered his services to the chaplaincy and served from May 1915 until February 1919. Just a few months after this his brother Second Lieutenant Richard Coppin Mellish was killed in action whilst serving with the 1st Middlesex Regiment at the Battle of Loos on 25 September 1915. Reverend Mellish was attached to the 4th Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers in Ypres Salient in 1916 and it was then during the first three days of the Actions of St Eloi Craters, 27 to 29 March 1916, that he performed the actions for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross. He was the first member of the army chaplaincy to win the VC in the First World War.
He was 35 years old, and a chaplain in the Army Chaplains' Department, British Army during the First World War when the following deeds took place for which he was awarded the VC.
The citation reads:
"For most conspicuous bravery. During heavy fighting on three consecutive days he repeatedly went backwards and forwards, under continuous and heavy shell and machine-gun fire, between our original trenches and those captured from the enemy, in order to tend and rescue wounded men. He brought in ten badly wounded men on the first day from ground swept by machine-gun fire, and three were actually killed while he was dressing their wounds.
The battalion to which he was attached was relieved on the second day, but he went back and brought in twelve more wounded men.
On the night of the third day he took charge of a party of volunteers and once more returned to the trenches to rescue the remaining wounded.
This splendid work was quite voluntary on his part and outside the scope of his ordinary duties."[