GENERAL MELVILL DEAD

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19124, 16 September 1925, Page 10

GENERAL MELVILL DEAD

NEW ZEALAND COMMANDANT.

A DISTINGUISHED SOLDIER,

PRIME MINISTER'S REGRET.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —I'HESS ASSOCIATION. ] "WELLINGTON. Tuesday.

Major-General d W. Melvill, Com mandant of the New Zealaud Forces, died this evening in the Bowen Street Hospital, where he recently underwent an operation. '

General Melvili's death was announced to the House of Representatives by the Prime Minister just before the adjournment at 11.15 p.m. "I regret to inform the House," said Mr. Coates, "that a very distinguished soldier and a faithful servant of New Zealand for many years has passed away a few minutes ago. I refer to General Melvill, the General Officer Commanding the New Zealand Forces."

The Prime Minister, alluding to Parliamentary custom on the point, briefly expressed his sincere regret, which he felt sure would be shared by all the members, and his sincere sympathy .with General Melvili's widow.

General C. W. Melvill, C.8., C.M.G., D.5.0., who was recognised as one of New Zealand's most distinguished soldiers, was the youngest son of Lieut. Teignmouth Melvill, V.C., 24th Regiment, and was born on September 5, 1878. He was educated afc Wellington College, and chose a military career, receiving his commission in the South Lancashire Regiment in 1897. He left as captain and adjutant in 1906, and joined the New Zealand Staff Corps in 1911. His ability being recognised, he was sent to staff college, Camberley, where he graduated with honours.

Service in Great War.

On the outbreak of the Great War he rejoined his old regiment, the " South Lanes," and - went with the "old contemptibles" to JFrance in August, 1924. A month later lie was wounded in the fighting, and in January, 1915, he received the important appointment of chief instructor of the school of instruction, Westminster Command. From May to September, 1915, he was brigade-major of the Tay Defences, and in the latter month joined the New Zealand Expeditionary Force at Gallipoli, as general staff officer. He participated in the evacuation, and was then appointed brigade-major to the Now Zealand Mounted' Rifles Brigade, Egypt. Next he received the command of the 4th Battalion, New Zealand Rifle Brigade, and proceeded to the Western front.

In June, 1917, he was promoted to the command of the Ist New Zealand Infantry Brigade, with the rank of brigadiergeneral, and commanded it with special distinction until the end of the war, and also during the period for which the New Zealand Division formed part of the army of occupation. On returning to the Dominion General Melvill was appointed officer commanding the Central Command, with headquarters at Palmerston North. When Sir Edward Chaytor resigned the position of general officer commanding the New Zealand Defence Forces, early in 1924, General Melvill succeeded him with the rank of major-general. • Exploits of First Brigade. -

Many Auckland returned soldiers \yill remember General Melvill's able handling of the First Brigade, including the Ist and 2nd Auckland Battalions, at the time of its most brilliant exploits. He was in command at the actions at La Basseville, Gravenstafel, Mailly-Maillet, La Signy Farm, Bapaume and Welsh Ridge. Of General Melvill, Lieut.-Colonel S. S. Allen writes in his history of the 2nd Auckland Battalion as follows: —"The principal achievements of the First Brigade will always be associated with his name. He hardly ever made a mistake; and while his cheerful personality made him popular with all ranks, his tactful suggestions of possible lines of action were most helpful to his commanding officers. As one of the commanding officers .myself, I can say that on all the occasions on which my battalion fought a successful action, that success was due to the precision with which General Melvill had foreseen and provided against the difficulties which might arise. If I take credit to myself in this book for executing any action, it must be remembered that I was really only carrying it out as closely as possible along the lines he had suggested. General Melvill never interfered with a battalion, commander more than he could help, and never gave more definite orders than were necessary, but he was always ready to advise and his advice always proved sound. Altogether, with the possible exception of General Brown, it is hard to imagine a finer type of brigadier under whom to work." In 1911 General Melvill married Miss Rita Burnett, of Mount Stuart.