THE GREAT WAR 1914-1918

Tom Mellor lived at number 18, Foundry Square, Norton Green, along with the other 9 members of his family. From today's point of view we would think as this as an extraordinary large family for a small two up - two down cottage, but at the beginning of the last century this would have been part of everyday life, with most family's numbering six or more regardless of their income or status.

Like so many of the young men of the village, Tom enlisted himself into the army to fight for King and country in the Great War of 1914 -1918. Tom joined the 1/5 North Staffordshire Regiment - Number 5209.

Before the servicemen were posted overseas they were asked to write a will in the case of their death. This must have been a very sobering thought to the servicemen who probably had no idea of the misery that was before them.

A copy of Toms will is shown below:

Having fought abroad for only a few months it seems that Tom was injured in action and had to return home to England for surgery before recuperating at home. We are lucky enough to have two post cards that Tom sent home while he was a patient at Beaufort War Hospital in Bristol. One of the postcards to his wife Alice and family, inquires if the hay making has begun back home yet. We can assume from this that Tom must have been feeling incredibly home sick at this time and longed for the safety and stability of his quiet life in the country. We can note that there was still a great significance on the harvest time in the early 1900's which evoke happy memories for those away from home.

These are the postcards sent home by Tom:

Beaufort Military Hospital, Fishponds, Bristol.

Beaufort War Hospital, Fishponds, Bristol - No2.Theatre

Before long Tom recovered from his injuries and yet again returned to the perils of war in Northern France. It seems that in the spring of 1918, Tom's regiment was involved with the bloody battles that were raging around the small village of Bullecourt. Bullecourt had the great misfortune of being on the German defensive known as the Hindenburg Line. This made the small village a greatly contested area and seemed a key point of attack for the colonial forces and a must to defend for the German army.

In one battle alone in April 1917 the Australian forces lost a staggering 10,000 men whilst attacking the village. Tom and his regiment must have been involved in the defense of Bullecourt around March 1918 when the German spring offensive began. The town fell into German hands and remained occupied until September of that year. Hundreds of soldiers were taken prisoners of war at the battle and sadly one of these was Tom. He was captured on the 27th of March 1918, only 8 months before the end of the war.

Having been taken prisoner of war, a telegram was sent to Tom's wife and family informing them of his situation.

Whilst suffering the misery and indignity of been held prisoner of war in Germany we can imagine that Tom and his comrades would have had their spirits lifted when receiving mail from their families back in England. Although most of the mail would have been censored and would have probably not reached its intended recipient, when it did get through we can only imagine the tears that were shed by these valiant heroes who would have known nothing of the way the war was turning in their favour.

Here we have a copy of one of the letters Tom received which seems to come from the wife or family member of Col. Johnson who must have been one of Tom's commanding officers.

The letter has not copied too well but reads as follows;

Hayesleigh
Alsager
Stoke on Trent
18th October: 1918

Dear Prvt Mellor,
I am very sorry that owing to so many restrictions - I am unable to send you anything for Christmas, especially as I have just received a letter from Col Johnson to send you all some cigarettes. I can therefore only send you this little note to tell you how very much you are all in our thoughts particularly at this time. You will be pleased to know that Col. Johnson has quite recovered from his wound. He sends you his best wishes and remembrances for Christmas - and we ferverently hope the day is not far off now - when you may be restored to your homes and families. I know the officers of your regiment who are also unfortunately prisoners of war would like to join in this message to you for Christmas.

Yours sincerely
L. Winifred Johnson.

Although the letter was sent with the greatest of kindness and thought, it seems to be a little presumptuous as only a matter of weeks later the Great War was all over and Tom and his fellow comrades were free to go home to the peace and serenity of England.

On Tom's return home he soon received a letter from King George, thanking him for his efforts in the war and wishing him a safe and peaceful future.

We would like to thank members of Tom's family for the kind loan of the personal mementos of Tom's part in the Great War.