George Henry Reginald Mellers
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George Henry Reginald known as 'Rex' was born in Nottingham in 1886, the only child of Joshua George and Sophia Elizabeth Mellers (née Robinson). George was baptised at St Peters Church, Nottingham, on 2 December 1886. On the 1911 census George (24), a lace manufacturer, was recorded as a visitor at 439 Langsett Road, Hillsborough, Sheffield; the home of Henry Frederick, an army pensions warden, and his family. Joshua Mellers, a lace manufacturer, and his wife Elizabeth were living at 'Trafoi', 12 Vivian Avenue, Sherwood Rise, Nottingham. Also in the household on the night of the census were Maude Baguley, a domestic servant, and Annie Hunter, a cook. Probate: Nottingham 1st February 1916. George Henry Reginald Mellers of Trafoi, Pelham Road, Sherwood Rise, Nottingham, Captain H M Army died 13th October 1915 in France. Administration awarded to Joshua George Mellers (father), lace manufacturer. Effects £706 3 shillings and 6 pence.
7th Bn Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment)George was killed during an attack by his battalion on the Hohenzollern Redoubt on 13 October 1915. His body was left entangled on German barbed wire but was recovered on the night of 22 November 1915 and carried back to the British lines. He was buried in a shell hole and covered in sacks due to the frozen state of the ground. George's grave was subsequently lost and his name is commemorated on the Loos Memorial, France.
WMA 27382. Family memorial, Nottingham St Andrew: 'To the Glory of God and in memory of George Henry Reginald Mellers BA Oxon. A captain in the 7th (Robin Hood) Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment). The only child of his parents who fell in Flanders whilst gallantly leading his men in the assault on the Hohenzollern Redoubt on the 13th day of October 1915 aged 29 years. The rood screen which adorns this church was erected by his sorrowing parents. AD 1918.’Nottingham Evening Post obituary (abridged) 20 October 1915: 'MELLERS, killed in action on 11/13 October, Captain George Henry Reginald (Rex) Mellers, 1/7th Sherwood Foresters, son of Mr and Mrs JG Mellers, Trafoi, 1 Pelham Road and 12 Vivian Avenue, Sherwood Rise, age 29.'Nottingham Evening Post, 4th January 1916:- “LATE CAPT. G. H. R. MELLERS. “HIS LAST RESTING-PLACE. “Details have reached Mr. J. G. Mellers, of Trafoi, Pelham-road, Nottingham, of the recovery of the body his son, the late Capt. G. H. R. Mellers, of the Robin Hoods, who was killed in the course of the attack on the Hohenzollern Redoubt in mid-October. And the details reflect great credit upon the bravery of a member of the 1st King's (Liverpool Regiment). “On the night of November 20th-21st, five weeks after Capt. Mellers had been killed in action, Private Maher, of the regiment named, went out in the hope of recovering the body of an officer which was lying some 40 yards in front of our line. He reached the spot, but found that the body was entangled in German wire, and was unable to move it. He secured the identity disc, and a service revolver, but found no papers of any sort. On his way back Maher brought in the bodies of two men, which were subsequently buried. “On the following night Maher was sent out, on volunteering, as a patrol, and he was accompanied by wire-cutters. After a good deal of trouble they succeeded in extricating the body — that of Captain Mellers it turned out to be — and in carrying it back to the British lines. Later, it was buried in a shell-hole and covered with sacks, the frozen state of the ground rendering it impossible to dig a grave. The shell-hole was situated little more an 30 yards from a German dug-out.” Nottingham Evening Post, 16 December 1916:- “NEW ALTAR SCREEN.“MEMORIAL TO GALLANT NOTTINGHAM OFFICER.“Memories of the extraordinary valour and endurance of our own Nottinghamshire Regiment in the battle at Hohenzollern Redoubt on 13 October, 1915, and of the courageous men who freely gave up their lives on that occasion were recalled at St. Andrew's Church yesterday morning [15th December 1918] when Canon R. D. Swallow, M.A., dedicated “to the Glory of God and in memory of Captain Rex Mellers” (who was one of those that fell) a very beautiful oak altar screen. Captain Mellers was the only son of Mr. J. G. Mellers, of “Tafoi,” Pelham-road, a former warden of the church with which the family has been devoutly associated for many years. Canon Swallow was headmaster of Chigwell School at the time Captain Mellers was being educated there, and amongst others present at the service, which was very impressive, were Colonel C. W. Birkin, O.C. of the Regiment at the time Captain Mellers went out, Colonel A. W. Brewill, D.S.O., Captain Pragnall (brother-in-law), Sir Jesse and Lady Boot, Lady McCraith, Mr. Herbert Leman, Alderman Robert Mellors, Mr. Percy Snook (representing the members of the Hollinwell Golf Club), Mr. J. D. Player, and Mr. J. A. Dixon.“The screen, which is based on English designs of the latter half of the 15th century, is placed between the piers of the chancel arch. The lofty, wide openings are reminiscent of the screens of East Anglia, whilst the upper part, with vaulted canopy and richly carved cornice, is more akin to the work of the West Country. It is surmounted by a cross about ten feet in height with beautifully foliated ends. The workmanship of the whole being exquisitely carried out under the direction of the well-known Nottingham architects, Messrs. Heazell and Sons.“Special music was rendered throughout, the anthem being “Give rest, O Christ, to Thy servant.” from the Russian Litany of St. Chrysostom.” Above reports courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918. The Eventide care homes, 190 Wollaton Vale, Nottingham NG8 2PH were built in 1955 at the behest of George Mellers's parents in memory of their son.
