A Gallant Doctor

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 189, 12 August 1936, Page 3

A Gallant Doctor

KILLED BY THOSE HE HELPED The death of Dr Andre John Mesnard Melly, who was shot throught the lung by the drunken leader of a mob of looters in Addis Ababa while stopping his car to assist a wounded Abyssinian, shocked the world when it was cabled from the war area. The current number of the ‘British Medical Journal’ refers at length to the tragedy, paying a high tribute to the work of a doctor who helped the wounded in circumstances of the utmost danger. The journal states: — ‘‘lt will be remembered that Dr. Melly, in October, 1935, organised a British ambulance service for Abyssinia, and sailed on November 15 as head of a British lied Cross unit. He took with him two specially designed operating tents, which could be erected and dismantled within a few hours. Ilis personnel consisted of live other doctors, a transport officer, number of native orderlies and lorry drivers, and an armed guard of 12 exprivates of the King’s African .Rifles. “The natural hazards of the work Dr Melly undertook wero great enough, and tho gross inadequacy of medical services in Abj’ssinia must have been terribly disheartening to one who was actuated by the highest of motives; but when, in addition to this, his camp was bombed by the Italians at Quorum on March 4, five patients being killed and several wounded, it is not surprising to hear that his courage and calmness earned the unstinted admiration of Abyssinian warriors. That ho should have been killed when his work had been done, and at the hands of those he was trying to help, is a tragedy. “Dr. Melly was educated at Marlborough, Oxford, and St. Bartholomew’s Hospital. He was awarded the Military Cross for service in France during the war. After qualifying M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P., in 192 G, he proceeded to the 8.M., B.Ch. Oxon. in 1929, and the F.R.C.S. Ed. in 1931. He was a house surgeon at St. Bartholomew's and tho Hampstead General Hospital, and subsequently spent two years in America as instructor in surgery at the University of Michigan Hospital. In 1934 he went out to Abyssinia and enlisted the interest of tho Emperor in the establishment there of a hospital and medical school. These plans were interrupted by the political crisis between Abyssinia and Italy, and ho returned to England. When in May of last year he was informed by the Ethiopian Government of the need for a Red Cross service he gave the ready response which was to lead to his death. “In his early plan for a medical service for Abyssinia it is probable that Dr. Melly saw an opportunity for combining missionary ideals with the profession ho had chosen. When he was an under-graduate he frequently preached at the Martyrs’ Memorial, and had at one time thought to becoming a medical missionary. Tall, good-looking, well dressed, sociable, completely devoid of sanctimoniousness, he concealed from the. casual observer tho seriousness of purpose and the idealism that were the foundation of his character. With his death the medical profession has lost a gallant gentleman.

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