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Auction: 17002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 306

(x) Warwickshire Yeomanry


Three: Lieutenant J. T. Mellers, 1/1st Warwickshire Yeomanry: having survived the loss of the hired transport Wayfarer and witnessed harrowing scenes in Gallipoli, he was commissioned in the 1/1st Worcestershire Yeomanry and saw further action in Palestine

1914-15 Star (1725 Sjt. J. T. Mellers, Warwick Yeo.); British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. J. T. Mellers), good very fine (3)

John Thomas Mellers was born in Banbury, Oxfordshire on 29 February 1892 and enlisted in the 1/1st Warwickshire Yeomanry soon after the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914.

Embarked for Egypt in April 1915, he survived the loss of the hired transport Wayfarer when she was torpedoed off the Scillies on the 11th: a well-documented incident, it led to the award of an M.C. and 12 M.S.Ms.

Subsequently landed at Suvla, Gallipoli on the night of the 18 August 1915, 1/1st Warwickshire Yeomanry advanced to Chocolate Hill under a heavy shrapnel fire on the 21st, the regimental historian noting that the incoming shells burst about 30 ft. overhead 'with deadly effect': six men were killed and 67 wounded.

By the end of September, due to further casualties and sickness, the unit's original strength of had been reduced to just 41 men 'fit for duty'.

Commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in the Worcestershire Yeomanry in February 1917, Mellers witnessed further active service in Palestine and was advanced to Lieutenant in August 1918.

Still employed in the early 1920s on the General List (Yeomanry), he finally relinquished his commission on account of age in December 1948. Mellers died in Lewes, Sussex in March 1972, aged 80.

Sold with the recipient's original field compass, in leather case, stamped 'Lt. J. T. Mellers', together with his whistle, three regimental badges and two 'Q.O.W.H.' metalled badges, four 'Pips' and a 1914 Queen Mary's tobacco tin; a 2nd edition of A Brief Record of the Advance of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force, July 1917 to October 1918 (H.M.S.O., London, 1919), inscribed 'J. L. Mellers, Lieut., 1/1 Worcester Yeomanry, LXX Corps Cav., Decr. 1919'; and a copy of The New Testament, inscribed '5953 Pte. Hansell, 52nd Bedfords'.


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Sold for
£650