Melhuish, Thomas Walter
- Date of birth:
- 1923
- Service number:
- 1946508
- Nationality:
- British
Biography
Thomas Melhuish enlisted on 1 July 1937 and transfrered to the Royal Army Reserve as of 2 April 1949 by which timed he had served 11 years and 276 days.
After the war he worked for the Home Office and Prison Service as a civil servant.
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Military Medal (MM)
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Corporal
- Unit:
- 17 Field Company Royal Engineers, British Army
- Awarded on:
- December 21st, 1944
"On the night of 30 Jun/1 Jul Cpl Melhuish accompanied a Sjt and one private of 1 Norfolk to determine whether a gap in the A tk ditch covering the LEBISEY locality was mined.
The approach entailed crossing some 100 yds of open ground fwd of the FDL. A wire fence was encountered approximately forty yards short of the enemy positions and here Cpl Melhuish, leaving the other two, passed through the wire. Despite intervals of bright moonlight he crawled a further distance beyond the fence and searched the ground which proved clear at this place. An enemy patrol passed within a few feet of him during this patrol.
After rejoining the other two men Cpl Melhuish continued along the gap and in the course of time located a taut trip wire connected to an S mine. This he was unable to neutralise. He successfully neutralised a second S mine on a slack trip wire and brought the mine and igniters back with him for examination.
On the following night the same patrol with an additional spr was again set out to continue examination of this area. Again penetrating behind the A tk ditch to within forty or fifty yards of where the enemy posts were subsequently found to be Cpl Melhuish searched a considerable area with great coolness obtaining valuable information. He continued until becoming slightly wounded by and A pers booby trap the explosion of which caused the patrol leader to withdraw the patrol.
On release from hospital Cpl Melhuish was again sent out with an officer and a Sjt of 1 Norfolk on night 6/7 July in view of his previous knowledge of the area. The patrol task was to get final information regarding the mines situation in the A tk ditch gap prior to the attack on LEBISEY by 185 Inf Bde on 8 July.
The patrol was located by enemy and some mortar fire was put down in their vicinity. Despite theis a thirt yard sector of the gap was successfully recced and the absence of A tk mines in this part of it established."
Cpl Melhuish displayed great devotion to duty, skill and nerve during these important preliminary patrols ad established a good example of close patrolling for ? intelligence in an area which he knew to contain anti personnel devices.
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
War Diary mentions
24 October 1944 WO 171/2352 - 17 Field Park Company
Notification received of the C-in-Cs approval of the award of the M.C. to Lt. Crush and M.Ms to Cpl. Cushing (8 Pl) and Cpl. Melhuish (late of 2 Pl). Weather fine.
Coy on same jobs as on previous day. Laying of corduroy road on worst parts of Dog route started. Parties retrieved bodies of officers and men of Norfolks and KSLI which had been lying in minefield. RO.II attended demonstration of amphibians. Weather fine.
Sources
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