Charles John Melliss
Captain, Indian Staff Corps attached to the West African Force
- Register No.
- 857 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Captain all Captains →
- Unit
- Indian Staff Corps attached to the West African Force all Indian Staff Corps VCs →
- Date of action
- 30 September 1900 on this day → all of 1900 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Third Ashanti Expedition
- London Gazette
- 15th January 1901 on this day → all of 1901 →
- Born
- 12th September 1862 at Mhow, India
- Died
- 6th June 1936 at Camberley, Surrey
- Memorial / grave
- on the grave at St Peter's churchyard, Frimley, Surrey, and in the Sanctum Crypt of St Luke's Church, Chelsea, London
Digest of citation
Having gathered a party of stray men, and any others he could, together, after noting that the enemy were in great numbers, Captain Melliss led them in a charge into the bush and right into the heart of the enemy. This action was at Obassa on 30th September 1900, during the 1900 Ashanti Campaign. During the attack he was wounded in hand-to-hand fighting. But the charge of Captain Melliss and his men, accompanied by a charge by the Sikhs, caused much panic amongst the enemy
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
MELLISS, Charles John. (reg No. 857).
Captain. Indian Staff Corps attached to the West African Force.
London Gazetted on 15th January 1901.
Born on 12th September 1862 at Mhow, India.
Died on 6th June 1936 at Camberley, Surrey.
Memorial on the grave at St Peter's churchyard, Frimley, Surrey, and in the Sanctum Crypt of St Luke's Church, Chelsea, London.
Digest of Citation reads: Having gathered a party of stray men, and any others he could, together, after noting that the enemy were in great numbers, Captain Melliss led them in a charge into the bush and right into the heart of the enemy. This action was at Obassa on 30th September 1900, during the 1900 Ashanti Campaign. During the attack he was wounded in hand-to-hand fighting. But the charge of Captain Melliss and his men, accompanied by a charge by the Sikhs, caused much panic amongst the enemy.
Additional information:. Sir Charles Mellis was a Knight Commander of the Bath (KCB) and a Knight Commander of St Michael and St George (KCMG).. He also served in the Great War (WW I) from 1914- 16. More to be added.
Additional information
Sir Charles Mellis was a Knight Commander of the Bath (KCB) and a Knight Commander of St Michael and St George (KCMG).. He also served in the Great War (WW I) from 1914- 16. More to be added.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: on the grave at St Peter's churchyard, Frimley, Surrey, and in the Sanctum Crypt of St Luke's Church, Chelsea, London
Map links open a search for the place name Alf recorded; please check opening times and exact locations before travelling. Many VC graves have since been restored by the Victoria Cross Trust.
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