MELTON, Henry (M.M.)
He is not named on the memorial but is recorded in the Roll of Honour book
inside Holy Trinity Church


T/2469, Corporal, Harry MELTON M.M.
Aged 21


1st/7th Battalion, Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment)
Killed in Action on Saturday, 1st July 1916

Harry MELTON was born in 1894 (Lambeth Q4-1894 1D:434) son of William Bird and Emma MELTON (née ATTERBERY).

1901 census...Aged 6, he was at The Railway Tavern, Whittlesford with his father William MELTON [35] tavern keeper born London; his mother Emma [44] born Ealing; half sister Ida Florence ATTERBURY [13] born London, Middlesex; sister Alice [4] and Emma [1] born in Yiewsley (nr Uxbridge)

1911 census...Aged 16, a brass worker (army equipment) he was at 1 King Edward Road, Lower Edmonton with his parents (father now Tram car motorman), sisters Alice (machinist) and Emma Caroline; half sister Florence Ida Atterbury (machinist). He is now recorded as born in Harlington.

His parents were later at 138 Victoria Road, Lower Edmonton, London. Harry is not named on the war memorial but is entered in the Roll of Honour book kept in the church.
His connection with Balsam was obscure until this Army form was found by Keith Brinded, showing Henry's parents and one sister living in Balsham in 1922, sister Emma being married to Balsham man, Harry Lane



This photograph below was on Ancestry, reported as Red Lion, Duxford ( 1901 Jubilee) with his parents, mother Emma 5th left ( with the hat) and William to her left (with the boater).If this is indeed the Red Lion at Whittlesford Bridge, the current woodwork is not as old as folk imagine.



Harry with his father, William Bird MELTON
photo from tte family via Jan Ellam




Harry enlisted on 24th August 1914 in Hornesy, Middlesex, when resident at Hertford Road, Lower Edmonton. He had served in the Territorials (E Coy, 7th Bn Middlesex Regt).
He gave his age as 19 years 1 month, was 5 feet 3.5 inches (161.3 cm) tall, chest 32" to 35" (81.3 to 87.9 cm). Next of kin his father William Bird MELTON.
He was sent almost immediately to Gibraltar (4th September 1914), returning to UK on 14th February 1915. On 12th March 1915 he went to France, via Southampton. Admitted to hospital 5th March 1916 and returned to duty on 9th. Then on 31st July 1916 suffering from boils, he was again admitted to hospital and returned to duty on 12th August
He was awarded the Military Medal, which was gazetted on 27th October 1916, after his death.
His personal belongings sent to his father consisted solely of a note book, silk handkerchief, some letters and a photo. That is all that seems to have survived of his service records, still no clue of his connection to Balsham

The 1st/7th battalion amalgamated with the 1/8th in August 1915. The war diary for October 1916 has not been found however the 167th Brigade has:-
"Guillemont Station 1/10/16 - 1st London right Bn sector - 7th Midx left Bn sector - 8th Mdx in support in FLERS line - 3rd Londons in support in TRONES WOOD.
At 3:15 pm under a creeping barrage strong patrols of the 1st London and 7th Mdx advanced and succeeded in occupying RAINY TRENCH and establishing a line of posts in accordance with Appendix A
At night 2 Coys Pioneer Bn and 1 Coy Edinburgh Field Coy R.E. worked on joining posts and wiring them.


According to CWGC the battalion had 6 killed, only Harry and one other has a known grave. The aerial view below actually shows RAINY TRENCH, the faint white line in the fields from the X where Harry was found, going SE past the top right corner of the D474 number.



Guillemont Station at the end of September 1916




Harry and 9 others buried here, moved to Guards' Cemetery in 1920






photo: Rodney Gibson



Harry Melton is buried in Guards' Cemetery, Lesboeufs, grave 7:X:6

click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details


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