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Hi,

I am after some assistance in tracing my Great uncle's service in the Royal Engineers and his subsequent convalescence.  It is only by accident that I found he had served in the Army prior to joining the Merchant Navy.

His name was Victor James Mellett (b. 1906) and from my research I found in a local newspaper article that he joined the Royal Engineers in 1939 and was wounded during the evacuation of Dunkirk in 1940.  He was discharged on 11 Nov 1941.  Unfortunately, that is all I can find.

Following his discharge he joined the Merchant Navy as a carpenter and was involved in the infamous Russian convoy PQ17 on the SS River Afton.

Any help would be gratefully received.

Hi,
You may be able to get some assistance from http://www.casus-belli.co.uk/index.asp?PageId=116, they have a great wealth of knowledge and resources about the Anglo-Boer War including casualty lists which your GG Grandfather may appear on.
Hope this helps,
Dale

Thanks Polar Bear,
His mother's maiden name was Mann who had a brother (also named Alfred) who had a wife named Louise.  In 1901 Alfred Mann was still living in Northampton employed as a Foreman Boot Finisher.  By 1920 he would have been about 50 years old.
Regards,
Dale

Hi,
I am researching my family tree and noticed that my great uncle, Alfred Joseph Mellett (b. Dec 1903 @ Northampton) emigrated to Montreal, Canada during May 1920 on the RMS Melita.  His intended occupation was electrical engineer in Montreal.

Could anyone help me understand why a 16 yr old would emigrate on his own to Canada in 1920?  Was there any financial incentive to do so after WW1?  Does anyone have any details of what he did on arriving in Canada?

Regards.

Hi Degri,
Do you have any more information about Thomas Patterson?  My grandfather was named Thomas Patterson and died in 1969 in Bedford aged about 53.  However, I was told that he only ever served in the Home Guard and never did full militar service!