Charles Melvin
Private, 2nd Battalion The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)
- Register No.
- 859 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Private all Privates →
- Unit
- 2nd Battalion The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) all Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) VCs →
- Date of action
- 21 April 1917 on this day → all of 1917 →
- Conflict / campaign
- First World War
- London Gazette
- 26th Nov 1917 all of 1917 →
- Born
- 2nd May 1895 at Boddin Graig, Montrose, Angus, Scotland
- Died
- 17th July 1941 at Kirriemuir, Scotland
- Memorial / grave
- not known
Digest of citation
On 21st April 1917 at Istabulat, Mesopotamia, Private Melvin's company were waiting for reinforcements before attacking a front- line trench, but he rushed on by himself over ground swept by rifle and machine-gun fire. On reaching the trench and having killed one or two of the enemy, he jumped into it and attacked the rest with his bayonet. Most of the enemy then fled but not before Private Melvin had killed two more and disarmed eight unwounded and one wounded. He bound up the wounded man and took him and his other prisoners back to an officer before reporting back to his platoon sergeant
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
MELVIN Charles (Reg.No 859)
Private 2nd Battalion The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)
London Gazetted on 26th Nov 1917 Born on 2nd May 1895 at Boddin Graig, Montrose, Angus, Scotland.
Died on17th July 1941 at Kirriemuir, Scotland.
Memorial not known Digest of Citation reads: On 21st April 1917 at Istabulat, Mesopotamia, Private Melvin's company were waiting for reinforcements before attacking a front- line trench, but he rushed on by himself over ground swept by rifle and machine-gun fire. On reaching the trench and having killed one or two of the enemy, he jumped into it and attacked the rest with his bayonet. Most of the enemy then fled but not before Private Melvin had killed two more and disarmed eight unwounded and one wounded. He bound up the wounded man and took him and his other prisoners back to an officer before reporting back to his platoon sergeant.
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Alf recorded the memorial as: not known
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