Charles Melvill

Major General Charles William Melvill, (9 September 1878 – 15 September 1925) was a soldier who served with the British Army for several years before joining the New Zealand Military Forces. He participated in the First World War with the New Zealand Division and commanded infantry brigades on the Western Front. At the time of his death, he was Commandant of the New Zealand Military Forces.

Early life Charles William Melvill was born in Bournemouth (then part of Hampshire), England, on 9 September 1878, the youngest son of Teignmouth Melvill. His father was an officer in the British Army and served in the 24th Regiment of Foot. He was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for his efforts to save his regiment's colours after the Battle of Isandlwana, the first major engagement of the Zulu War. Educated at Wellington College in Berkshire, Melvill followed his father into the British Army, joining in 1897.

After graduating, Melvill was commissioned as a second lieutenant into the South Lancashire Regiment, on 7 September 1897. It was with his regiment that he later fought in the Second Boer War. He was promoted to lieutenant in October 1899. After the war, he served in India for several years and eventually left the service in 1906 with the rank of captain.

New Zealand In 1907 Melvill emigrated to New Zealand to take up farming in the Otago region but this new lifestyle transpired to only be for a few years. In 1911 he joined the newly established New Zealand Staff Corps, the professional cadre of the New Zealand Military Forces then being reorganised by its commandant, Major General Alexander Godley. For the next two years, he assisted in the administration and training of the newly established Territorial Force (TF). He was also brigade major of the Auckland Infantry Brigade, a TF formation.

When the New Zealand Division was formed in early 1916, Melvill was promoted to lieutenant colonel and given command of the 4th Battalion of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade, leading it through the Battle of the Somme, the first major engagement of the war for the division. He later commanded 2nd Infantry Brigade for a period of time before returning to his battalion. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order at the end of the year.

In 1917, Melvill took over command of the 1st Infantry Brigade during the Battle of Messines when its previous commander, Brigadier General Charles Henry Brown, was killed during an artillery barrage. Promoted to temporary brigadier general, he was made a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George for his leadership of the brigade during the Battle of Broodseinde on 4 October 1917.

During the German spring offensive of 1918, Operation Michael, Melvill's brigade played key roles in holding and stabilising the lines in the New Zealand sector. Well regarded for his capable leadership, he also led the New Zealand Division from late-June to mid-July 1918 while its nominal commander, Major General Andrew Russell was on sick leave. In the Hundred Days Offensive, his leadership of 1st Infantry Brigade saw it breach the Hindenburg Line and capture the town of Crevecoeur during the Battle of the Canal du Nord on 28 September. For this, and his earlier exploits during the German offensive, he was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath in the 1919 King's Birthday Honours. By the end of the war, he had been mentioned in despatches four times.

Later life

After the end of the war, Melvill served as an administrative officer and oversaw the disbandment of the NZEF in 1919. He was discharged from active duty in October 1919.