Canada. A Medal Group to Acting Sergeant Mellon, 1st Divisional Signal Company Canadian Engineers

1914-15 Star (23413 SPR: W.G. MELLON. 1/CAN: D.S. Coy); British War Medal (23413 A. SJT. W.G. MELLON. C.E.); and Victory Medal (23413 A. SJT. W.G. MELLON. C.E.). Naming is officially impressed. Unmounted, the BWM with a very dark patina, spotting on the Star, the VM missing its ring suspension, replacement ribbons, very fine. Accompanied by his Royal Hamilton Light Infantry Marching and Firing Competition Championship Medal 1907 (in sterling silver, maker marked "T. LEES" and marked "STERLING" on the edge, engraved "Pte. MellonB. Co. 1907", measuring 23 mm in diameter, ring suspension); his Beaver Lodge No. 31 Badge 1922 (two-piece construction, in silvered and gilt sterling silver, engraved "Presented by BEAVER LODGE No. 31 P.C. 1922", maker marked and marked "STERLING" on the reverse, measuring 32.5 mm (w) x 36 mm (h), suspended from a hanger engraved "W.G. Mellon" with horizontal pinback); and a Central Collegiate Institute, Hamilton Lapel Pin (two-piece construction, in sterling silver with red and black enamels, maker marked and marked "STERLING" on the reverse, measuring 10.7 mm (w) x 14.8 mm (h), vertical pinback).

 

Footnote: William Gordon Mellon was born on November 21, 1889 in Hamilton, Ontario. He signed his Attestation Paper (23413) on September 18, 1914 at Camp Valcartier, at the age of 24, naming his next-of-kin as his sister, Ella Mellon of Hamilton, stating that he had three years' previous service with the 91st Canadian Militia, one year with the 95th Canadian Militia and eighteen months in the United States Army Coast Artillery Corps, that he was not married, that his religion was Church of England and that his trade was that of Fireman. During his medical examination, it was noted that he had a tattoo of a female on his right forearm and that he had a slightly enlarged thyroid. The Battalion was raised in Quebec, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island with mobilization headquarters at Camp Valcartier, under the authority of P.C.O. 2067, August 6, 1914. The Battalion sailed October 3, 1914 aboard the S.S. Scotian, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel H.F. McLeod with a strength of 45 officers and 1,028 other ranks. Upon arrival in England, the 12th Battalion was re-designated the 12th Reserve Battalion forming part of the Canadian Training Depot. Five months later, he went overseas for service in the French theatre, arriving in France on March 20, 1915 and transferred to the 1st Canadian Divisional Signal Company, Canadian Engineers as a Sapper. Mellonwas admitted to No. 1 Canadian Field Ambulance on January 2, 1916 with a "Debility". An X-ray was done at Moore Barracks, Canadian Hospital at Shorncliffe on the 3rd, with "no fracture" indicated. After five days in hospital, he was discharged on the 7th and rejoined his unit. He contracted Gonorrhea in France in May 1916 but did not report in "sick" and returned to England as an Instructor the same month, where he was taken on strength of the Canadian Engineers Training Battalion on May 21, 1916. Two months after returning to England, his left elbow was swelled and very painful.

 

He reported it on July 24, 1916 and was sent to Moore Barracks, Canadian Hospital at Shorncliffe, where he was admitted that day with an "inflamed left elbow". He was diagnosed with "Gonorrheal Arthritis, severe" and after extensive treatments, the doctor noted that there was "Considerable stiffness still present." and that the "Joint loosened three times under anesthesia". While at Moore Barracks, he was placed on command at the Canadian Engineers Training Depot at Sandgate on October 26, 1916. Mellon would be hospitalized for five and a half months at Moore Barracks, before being discharged on January 9, 1917, then transferred to the Canadian Convalescent Hospital at Woodcote Park, Epsom on the 9th, where he would receive massage and hydro therapy on the left elbow. He was still listed as being with the 1st Divisional Signal Company when he left Woodcote Park on February 16th, and subsequently admitted to Granville Canadian Special Hospital, Ramsgate for further active treatment, in the form of massage and galvanism on the left elbow. There was "no improvement" in his condition, so an X-ray was done on February 19th, showing evidence of "periostitis at the lower end of the humerus" and a "loss of cartilage at the anticular surface of the joint", along with "evidence of old sepsis". In a report from the Office of the Assistant Director of Medical Services (ADMS) at Shorncliffe, Folkestone, it was noted that Mellon had appeared before a Medical Board on February 26th and that the Board recommended that Mellon be discharged from active service. His discharge was subsequently approved and made effective on March 22nd. He was struck off strength of the Canadian Engineers Training Depot on proceeding to Canada for discharge on March 12, 1917. Mellon sailed from Liverpool, England aboard His Majesty's Hospital Ship Essequibo on March 22, 1917 and upon arrival in Canada, was taken on strength at No. 2 District Depot in Toronto, Ontario. His condition was deemed serious enough on March 31st, that he be placed in a convalescent hospital. He was admitted to "D" Unit of Spadina Military Hospital, part of the Military Hospitals Commission of Canada (MHCC) on April 8, 1917, where he would be treated for the next five and a half weeks. Acting Sergeant William Gordon Mellon, 1st Divisional Signal Company, Canadian Engineers was discharged as Class I at Toronto on May 17, 1917, as "Being no longer physically fit for War Service", credited with having served in Canada, England and France. For his First World War service, he was awarded the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.