Ernest Mellers
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Ernest was the son of James Mellers and his first wife Elizabeth (née Hefford) Both his parents were born in Nottingham, his father in about 1847 and his mother in about 1849. They were married in 1867 and had at least five children who were all born in Nottingham: James b. 1869, Elizabeth birth registered 1874 (J/F/M), Horace birth registered 1882 (J/F/M), Percy b. 1886 and Ernest b. 8 January 1889. James snr. was a cordwainer/shoemaker and his wife was recorded on the census between 1871 and 1891 working as a lace finisher/clipper. James and Elizabeth lived in Nottingham all their lives and by 1891 their home was on Ritson Terrace, Hawkridge Street, Nottingham, where they were living with four of their five children: Elizabeth a lace worker, Horace (8), Percy (4) and Ernest (2). Elizabeth snr. died in 1900 and in 1901 her husband was living at 10 Ritson Terrace with his married son James a wood engraver, Horace a printer's compositor, Percy a tailor's assistant and Ernest who was still at school. Also in the household was their married sister Elizabeth Jackson, her husband Arthur and their two daughters. By 1911 James snr. had remarried and was living on Glasshouse Street, Nottingham, with his wife Mary. His son Ernest, a stock keeper (blouse manufacturer), was living at 5 Ritson Terrace with his sister Elizabeth and her family. Ernest's RND record gave his address as 9 Albert Avenue, Carlton Hill, Nottingham. His next of kin was given first as his sister, 'Miss Mellers', also of 9 Albert Avenue, but her name was deleted and replaced with that of his father, James, of the same address. James snr. probably died in 1916.
Drake Bn. Royal Naval Division, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (Bristol Z/5092). The Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve was formed in 1903 and recruited civilians who did not have to have prior sea experience unlike the Royal Naval Reserve whose volunteers were professional seamen. Two Naval Brigades and a Brigade of Marines were formed on the outbreak of war from RN and RM Reservists ie former regular seamen in the Royal Fleet Reserve, and marines, and Volunteers who were not needed for service at sea. These were later supplemented by those who had originally volunteered for the army. In 1916, after significant losses at Antwerp (1914) and Gallipoli (1915), the Royal Naval Division was transferred to the British Army as the 63rd (Royal Naval) Division and fought on the Western Front for the rest of the war. In the spring of 1917 the Division was involved in operations on the Ancre. Able Seaman Ernest Mellers enlisted on 10th December 1915. He was part of a draft that left for France on 21st November 1916 and joined Drake Battalion on 12th December 1916. He was severely wounded on 5th February 1917, a shell wound to his left thigh, a compound fracture of the femur from which he succumbed later that day at 11th Casualty Clearing Station. He is buried in Varennes Military Cemetery, France, in a joint grave with 39830 Private M. Summerscales, 15th Bn. Lancs. Fusiliers (grave ref. I.H.38). Ernest was entitled to the British War Medal and Victory Medal. CWGC - Varennes Military Cemetery (extract): 'The cemetery was laid out by the 39th Casualty Clearing Station in August 1916, during the Battle of the Somme, but the first burials were made during August and September by more mobile divisional Field Ambulances. The 4th and 11th Casualty Clearing Stations then used the cemetery from October 1916, joined by the 47th from December 1916, but by May 1917 Varennes was deserted and remained so until the Germans launched their offensive in this quarter in April 1918.' (www.cwgc.org)
His name appears on the 'Roll of Gallant Dead' in the Albert Hall Central Methodist Mission's 14th Annual Report, 1916-17. Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 13 February 1917: 'Mellers. Died of wounds, February 5th, my dearest and most devoted brother, Able Seaman Ernest Mellers, Royal Naval Division, Old Robin Hood Band, 9, Albert-avenue, Carlton-hill, aged 28. He had the tongue of truth, and was the soul of honour. Sister Lizzie Jackson.’ (wwwbritishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 13 February 1917: 'Mellers. Died of wounds, February 5th, Able Seaman Ernest Mellers, Royal Naval Division, aged 28. Dearly loved. From Maggie and all at 22, Curzon-street.’ (wwwbritishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) .
