Private, 10718, Francis (Frank) Allan Mellis,(25) – Killed in Action

8th/10th Gordon Highlanders, 13 March 1917

The Banffshire Herald

Extract from the above publication dated 24 March 1917 :-

Keith Gordon Killed

Private Frank Mellis

The sad intelligence came to hand this week of the death in action of Private Frank Mellis, third son of Mr. and Mrs. Mellis, 17 Duff Street, Fife-Keith. Only four months ago the youngest son, John, was killed at Beaumont Hamel, two out of four sons serving, thus having paid the extreme penalty. Private Frank Ellis, who was 26 years of age, enlisted in the Gordon Highlanders almost nine years ago, and was attached to the second battalion of his regiment.

He had seen service in Egypt and India, having been one of the guard of honour at the Delhi Durbar in 1911. He went to France with his regiment in September 1914 and took part in some hard fighting in Belgium, his regiment forming part of that force which endeavoured to relieve Antwerp, but which had to fall back before vastly superior forces, fighting by day and retreating by night, leaving their fires burning in order to deceive the Germans – a game of heroic bluff which terminated in the world-famed stand at Ypres, where the gallant British heroes finally stopped the Hunnish hordes by sheer death-defying courage and soldierly skill.

At this historic battle Private Mellis was seriously wounded, receiving two gunshot wounds in the back and escaping death by inches. After a long period of convalescence in this country he was again marked fit and only a month ago returned to the fighting line, this time being attached to the 8th-10th Gordons.

On the 13th Inst. he was killed in the trenches by a shell burst. Private Mellis was fairly well known in Keith, having been at Earlsmount Hospital for some time where by his unfailing good humour and soldierly bearing he gained universal goodwill and friendship. Writing to his parents, his platoon commander says – “His loss is felt by all who knew him in the company, and by me, his platoon officer in particular. During the short time he was under me, his conduct and work were irreproachable and the admirable example he set to the younger soldiers in my platoon will not be readily forgotten”

Of Private Mellis’ two brothers, William has been in France for almost two years whilst James serving in Mesopotamia in the machine gun corps. The sincere sympathy of the community goes out to Mr and Mrs Mellis in their double bereavement.

Further Information

Further to the above information:-

In c.1908 Frank enlisted into the 2nd Gordon Highlanders at Keith, Banffshire

He is buried at the Faubourg d’Amiens Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France.

War Diary of the 8th/10th Gordon Highlanders 13 March 1917.

13 March 1917 – Heavy enemy bombardment with field guns, 4.2’s, 5.9’s on support and reserve lines. Trenches damaged, but only 1 casualty. ‘A’ Company relieved ‘C’ Company in the front line; ‘B’ relieved ‘D’ in support.

After dark 2nd Lieutenant Hotchkiss, who had been in a shell hole near the enemy wire since 2 a.m., came safely in and reported the enemy front line to be held very lightly, if at all, through the day, but that he heard troops coming up to occupy it at dark.

Family

Francis (Frank) Allan Mellis was born on 19 March 1891 at Keith, Banffshire. The following family information is taken from the 1891 and 1901 Census.

His family is shown as follows :-

Father: James Mellis, born c.1854 at Keith, Banffshire: (Plasterer).
Mother: Helen Raffan or Mellis, born c.1855 at Keith, Banffshire.
Sister: Jeannie, born c.1879 at Forgie, Moray.
Brother: William, born c.1884 at Fife-Keith, Banffshire: (Portman Civil Service).
Brother: James, born c.1886 @ Fife-Keith, Banffshire: (Painters Apprentice)
Sister: Helen, born c.1893 @ Fife-Keith, Banffshire.
Brother: John, born c.1895 @ Fife-Keith, Banffshire.

Although she does not appear on any of the above Census, there also appears to have been a sister of Frank called Margaret Mellis or Milton as she appears in the Register of Soldiers Effects as a recipient of some pension monies.

In Memoriam John & Frank Mellis (© Leonard Mellis)

Addresses

The following addresses have been ascertained for Frank Mellis :-

1891: 66 Regent Street, Fife-Keith, Banffshire.
1901: 6 Duff Street, Fife-Keith, Banffshire.
1911: 2nd Gordon Highlanders, India.
1917: 17 Duff Street, Fife-Keith, Banffshire.

Medals

Frank Allan Mellis was awarded the 1914 Star and Clasp, Victory and the British War Medals for his service in the Great War. His date of entry into the theatre of war in France was the 7 October 1914.

Memorials

Frank Allan Mellis is honoured and remembered on the following memorials :-