Cyril Mellors

Cyril Mellors enlisted at Mansfield whilst living at Sutton in Ashfield. He landed in France on 29th July 1915 and was killed in action on 26th September 1916, having no known grave his name is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Pier and Face 2C & 3A

Id confirmed by Soldiers's Effects Register He was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his actions on 24th December 1915. The official citation was published in the 'London Gazette' on 22nd January 1916: “For conspicuous gallantry near Bienvillers on the night of December 24th, 1915. When a grenade had fallen from a “West” bomb thrower into our own trench, he jumped down from the parapet, seized it, and threw it out of the trench. The grenade exploded as it left his hand. His promptness and bravery saved many." Nottingham Free Press 28th January 1916: “D.C.M. FOR SUTTON SOLDIER. BRAVERY WHICH SAVED MANY CASUALTIES. We are pleased to record that the Distinguished Conduct Medal has been awarded to a Sutton soldier – 17192, Sergeant C. Mellors, 7th Leicestershire Regiment, whose home is at Langford-street. During the Battle of the Somme, he wrote to the family of Pte. Joseph Staley, 7th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, who had been killed in action on 14th July 1916, with the news of his death and this was published on 18th August 1916 in the Nottingham Free Press: 'It is very hard for me to have to write this sad news to you and let you know that your son Joe was killed in the advance. He was killed outright. I am sorry I cannot tell you anything about him, for I was not there at the time, but I know definitely he was killed outright, so he did not suffer. The parcel which you sent has been opened and shared out amongst his platoon. His pal Spenny got wounded too, and I miss them very much.'" Article courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918