Orders, Decorations and Medals

An outstanding Gallipoli D.S.O. group of five awarded to Captain William Mellor, Royal Navy, officer in charge of the Trawler Mine-sweepers and in command of H.M. Kite Balloon Ships Monica, and later Canning, throughout the Gallipoli Campaign

Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., complete with top suspension brooch; Naval General Service 1915-62, 1 clasp, Persian Gulf 1909-1914 (Commr. W. Mellor, R.N. H.M.S. Odin) mostly officially re-impressed; 1914-15 Star (Commr. W. Mellor, D.S.O. R.N.); British War and Victory Medals, with small M.I.D. oak leaf (Commr., R.N.) mounted as worn, good very fine (5) £3000-3500

D.S.O. London Gazette 16 August 1915: ‘Commander Mellor was in charge of the Trawler Mine-sweepers, and took part in all the mine-sweeping operations under fire prior to and including the 18th March. He displayed conspicuous gallantry, always being to the fore in a picket-boat, in the most exposed positions, encouraging his sweepers and setting a fine example.’

The following extract is taken from Gallipoli by Eric Wheeler Bush and quotes from the diary of Lt.-Cdr. J. B. Waterlow, a volunteer officer for mine-sweeping trawlers for the Dardanelles, March 1915:

‘By the time we got into the minefield the fire was terrific and with the glare of the search lights on it was as bright as day. A veritable hail of shell fell all around us... Looking at Commander Mellor’s picket boat close alongside me it appeared as though he was in a snow storm, but Mellor sat unperturbed on top of the cabin roof... Commander Mellor now hailed us to turn and the trawlers to get out their sweeps.’

William Mellor was born on 20 August 1874, at Walton, Liverpool, and educated at the Merchant Taylors’ School, Great Crosby, Liverpool, and in H.M.S. Britannia, which he entered in June 1887. He became Midshipman on 15 August 1889; Sub-Lieutenant, 20 August 1893; Lieutenant, Royal Navy, 20 August 1894, and Commander, 30 June 1906. He commanded H.M.S. Odin in the Persian Gulf, February 1912 to March 1914 (Naval General Service Medal and clasp for prevention of gun-running). During the Great War he was in charge of the mine-sweeping operations in the Dardanelles, January to May 1915. He was present throughout the whole of the Gallipoli Campaign in command of H.M. Kite Balloon Ships Monica and Canning, and was subsequently Deputy Naval Transport Officer at Salonika and Port Convoy Officer at Taranto and Marseilles. Mellor was invested with the D.S.O. at St James’s Palace on 22 November 1919, and was mentioned in despatches, London Gazette 2 May 1919. He was placed on the Retired List at his own request with the rank of Captain on 14 January 1921, and died at his residence in Liverpool on 10 May 1928. Sold with copy record of service and other research.