Alfred's Story.
EARLY LIFE
Alfred Mellor was born in Macclesfield on 22 June and baptised at St Michael's Church on 18 July 1897, the son of Martha and Hugh Mellor, a plasterer of 20 Waters, Macclesfield.
In 1911, thirteen-year-old Alfred was working as an errand boy and living at 9 Davies St, Macclesfield with his parents and siblings Annie (21), Nellie (20), Emma Jane (16), Wilfred (9) and Jessie (9).
WW1 SERVICE
Alfred joined the Army on June 22nd, 1916 and was drafted to France about nine months later.
Lance-Corporal Mellor was wounded and he died from his wounds on 30 March 1918. His death was reported in the Macclesfield Times on 19 April 1918:
Mr and Mrs H Mellor, 9 Davies Street, off Buxton Road, Macclesfield, have lost their eldest son, Lce-Corpl Alfred Mellor, Royal Engineers, who died in a casualty clearing station in France on March 30th from gunshot wounds in the left shoulder. He was educated at St Paul's School and was formerly employed at Messrs Johnson's, wheelwrights, Chester Road. Joining the Army on June 22nd, 1916, he went out to France about twelve months ago and shortly before Christmas was in hospital suffering from the effects of gas. Lance-Corporal Mellor returned to the line upon recovery and was home on leave in January last. Three brothers-in-law are serving - two in France and the other in Egypt.
COMMEMORATION
L/Cpl Alfred Mellor is buried in grave ref. I. B. 14. of the Namps-au-Val British Cemetery, France. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission holds casualty details for L/Cpl Alfred Mellor, and he is listed on the Imperial War Museum's Lives of the First World War website.
In Macclesfield, L/Cpl Alfred Mellor is commemorated on the Park Green, Town Hall, St Michael’s Church, Macclesfield Sunday School and the Mill Street Mission war memorials.
The Mill Street Mission held a memorial service to L/Cpl Alfred Mellor on Sunday 21 April 1918 which was reported in the Macclesfield Times on 26 April 1918:
At the Mill Street Mission, Macclesfield, on Sunday, Mr N B Storey referred to the loss the Mission had sustained by the death from wounds of Lance-Corpl. Alfred Mellor, Royal Engineers, Davies Street, Macclesfield.
SOURCES
Cheshire Parish Baptism Registers (Find My Past): St Michael’s Church, Macclesfield
1911 Census
Commonwealth War Graves Commission website
Macclesfield Times: 19 April 1918, 26 April 1918
Research by Rosie Rowley, Macclesfield.