Stanley Mellor (1897-1918)

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This page is part of a project by David Verguson to research the lives of those who appear on war memorials and rolls of honour in the Lindley area.

Biography

Son of Willie and A. M. Mellor, of 22, Hill Top, Salendine Nook, Huddersfield.

Willie Mellor was born in Honley in 1862. His wife Anna Maria came from Halifax and according to the 1901 census it was in Halifax where the children were born — Frederick in 1895 and Stanley in 1897. In 1911 they said the children and their younger sister, Gertrude, then aged eight, were born in Huddersfield.

It is possible that the census enumerator made a mistake in 1901 and it seems unlikely that Willie would have made an error when filling out the form for himself.[1]

Certainly to say Gertrude was born in Huddersfield does not rule out her being born in Lindley, at 5 Weatherhill Road where the family was living in 1901. By 1911 they had moved up Cowrakes to 22 Hill Top, further from the centre of the village, and she may have been born there.

Hill Top was that small community on the hill between Lindley village and Salendine Nook, now long gone and built over, probably because the houses were of such poor quality: the Mellors had only two rooms. Even so, they had three children and lost none in infancy unlike many people in Lindley.

The boys, at least, probably began their schooling at Birchencliffe and then moved on to school at Holly Bank Road or Wellington Street.

Willie was a cloth finisher so probably worked in one of the many mills along the New Hey Road. By 1911, young Frederick was following in his father's footsteps and was also a finisher. Stanley, two years younger, was a piecer.

We don't know precisely when Stanley enlisted — no Service Record survives — however, his high number suggests he waited to be called up, in which case he may have been in the army since after early 1916.

Stanley served in the 2/7th Battalion of the Duke of Wellington's, which first went to France in January 1917. During the Battle of Bullecourt on 3 May 1917, Stanley was wounded.

At the age of only 21 years, Stanley was killed in action on 15 April 1918 in the German spring offensive, during which many local men died.

Stanley is buried in the Somme area just 17 Kms north of Arras and is remembered on the Thorncliffe Chapel memorial plaque, which is now in the Methodist Church on East Street. Frederick Mellor may have also served and fortunately returned safely.

Huddersfield's Roll of Honour: 1914-1922

The following extract is from Huddersfield's Roll of Honour: 1914-1922 (2014) by J. Margaret Stansfield:

MELLOR, STANLEY. Private. No 242012. 2/7th Battalion Duke of Wellington's Regiment. Son of Willie and A. M. Mellor, 22 Hill Top, Salendine Nook, Huddersfield. Wounded at the Battle of Bullecourt, 3.5.1917. Killed in action, 15.4.1918, aged 21 years. Buried GOMMECOURT BRITISH CEMETERY No 2. Grave location:- Plot 5, Row J, Grave 1.
ROH:- Huddersfield Drill Hall.

Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Links

Notes and References

  1. That said, it is possible someone did it for him and could have got it wrong.

Locations