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Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17199, 20 June 1916, Page 8

\n officer of the Northumberland Fusiliers relates a vivid story of the circumstances under which the Rev b. Noel Mellish, who has been serving as a chaplain afc the front, and belore going out was labouring as a curate at the Thames-sido parish of St Peters, Deptford, won theV.O. He says:— " Nothing could be. finer than the way Chaplain Mellish did his duty., and more than his duty, .during the tamo he was stationed near us. The conditions on the day on wlnch he won his cross were very trying. Immediately the troops occupied the captured trenches, and while the wounded men were picking their way back painfully, the enemy guns were turned on full Wast, and the intervening ground was deluged with shellfiro and machine-gun bullets not to mention shells or grenades that came from a portion ot treuch -till in enemy hands. Into tins tempest of lire the brave parson walked with a pravcr book under his arm, as though he 'were, going to a church parade in neace time. Ho reached the first batch of wounded and knelt down to do what he could for them < The first few men he brought in lmnselt without any aid, and it made us, think o bit more of parsons to see how he walked quietly under tiro, assisting the slowly-moving wounded and thinking more of saving the wounded from discomfort than of his own safety. It was onlv when the ambulance parties 'wwe able to get, out, during a lull m the lighting that he took a. rest. Next day ho was out on the job as unconcerned as over, and some men of my regiment had reason to bo grateful for his attention to them at critical moments. Some of the men would never have survived the ordeal had it not been for the prompt assistance rendered' them by Mr Mellish." * ... , •