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Married: 1918. Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Marriage Cert:6822/1918.
Wife: Ernestine Camille Alice Melvaine. nee: Frere. (18..-1976) Died at Kyogle, N.S.W. Death Cert:105859/1976.
Mother: Elizabeth Jane Melvaine. nee: . (18..-1914) Uralla, N.S.W. Death Cert:16815/1914.
Victor Percy Melvaine enlisted with the 33rd Battalion AIF on the 3rd January 1916 and was an original member of
A Company No:1 Platoon. Victor was promoted to Sergeant on the day he embarked from Sydney on board HMAT A74 "Marathon" on
the 4th May 1916 and disembarked at Devonport, England on the 9th July 1916.
After arriving in England Victor and the 33rd Battalion were marched to the Durrington Army Camp at Lark Hill where the
Battalion spent the next four months in training before proceeding overseas via Southampton for France on the 21st of
November. He was Taken on Strength with the 33rd Battalion in the field.
7th June 1917
The 3rd Australian Divisions first major offencive was at Messines Ridge on the 7th June 1917.
The Australian 3rd Division was a part of the II Anzac Corps which was allotted to the first
assault. The 25th New Zealand, 3rd Australian Division with the 4th Australian Division in
reserve. The 4th Division were battle hardened troops who had fought many major battles.The 3rd
Australian Division were having problems getting to the "jump off" point. The day before the 9th
and 10th Infantry Brigades were bombarded by German Gas-Shells around Hill 63 and Plugstreet
Wood. Many of the Aussies were not wearing gas masks, but dispite this they pressed on even
though they received 500 casulties.
They made it to the "jump off" point but only just with some of the men from the 9th and 10th
going straight over the top without stopping. The mines went up and the attack commenced behind
a protective barrage. The II Anzac Corps were attacking on the right with their objective being
the southern shoulder of the ridge which included Messines, the Dover and St Yves areas as far
south to the east of Plugstreet Wood.
Major General Sir John MONASH's 3rd Division had to contend with a tricky 3 mile approach out of
Plugstreet Wood and after the German gas attack, but they were not detered. The 9th Infantry
Brigade under Brigadier General A JOBSON and the 10th Infantry Brigade under Brigadier General
W R NICHOLL had just made the jumping off point but some of the men did not stop, going straight
into the assault from the approach march.
Their objective lay between St Yves and the Douve. The mines at Trench 127 and Trench 12 at
Factory Farm were laid to aid this task. The explosions erupted a few seconds before zero hour
and created craters of 200 feet in diameter, completely obliterating the German defence line as
the 9th and 10th Infantry Brigades went over the top. The mine crates forced the 9th and 10th
Brigades to veer to the left and right which caused some confusion with the main assault. It is
testimony to the quality of training that every man knew the ground, tasks and objectives so well.
Private: 1804 John CARROLL 33rd Battalion, rushed the
enemy's trench and bayoneted four of the German occupants. He then noticed a comrade in difficulties
and went to his assistance, killing another German. He then attacked single handed a German Machine
Gun Team, killing all three of them and capturing the gun. He later rescued two of his comraded who
had been buried alive by German Shell Fire, and in spite of heavy shelling and machine gun fire he
dug them out alive and saved them from certain death. John was awarded the
Victoria Cross.
The German foward zone was completely engulfed and taken by the main assault. The two supporting
battalions of each brigade then passed the leading battalion to continue the advance. The men
were constantly re-supplied and the ridge was taken. There were many German prisoners taken
during the offencive. The 3rd Division was well ahead with the 9th Infantry Brigade pushing on
beyond Grey Farm, and on the right the 10th Infantry Brigade were veering left towards Septieme
Barn north of Douve.
The German resistance was heavy but was generally brushed aside by tanks and artillery before
the infantry had to become too involved.The 4th Bavarian Divisions Artillery had made little
impact, but as the day wore on the 3rd Division and later the 4th Australian Division received
many casulties from German artillery. (70% of all casulties during WW1 were from artillery).
By 9:00am nearly 6 hours after the assault began the Germans were in dissaray, but there was a
major problem as the Australians received less casulties as anticipated and when ordered to dig
into the ridge they had so many men, that some could not find shelter. the 35th battalion were
dug in around Seaforth Farm.
The second phase of the operation was to take the Oosttaverne Line. The 3rd Australian Division
would now be in reserve with the 4th Division attacking. The 9th Infantry Brigade (33-34-35-36Bn)
were near Thatched Cottage facing Warneton. The river Lys was to their right and the Plugstreet
Wood was now behind them.
Once their objectives were taken the troops consolidated. A barrarge to stop and counter attack
was shortnened and caught three battalions which had to retire. By 9:00pm this part of the
Oosttaverne Line was abandonded. At 10:45pm General Godley ordered the 3rd and 4th Divisions to
retake it. This they did by the early hours of the 8th of June.
The Battle for Messines Ridge during May-June 1917 saw 35 officers and 1,631 other ranks loose
their lives.
| 33rd Battalion. AIF | 8 Officers | 382 Other ranks |
| 34th Battalion. AIF | 10 Officers | 378 Other ranks |
| 35th Battalion. AIF | 5 Officers | 431 Other ranks |
| 36th Battalion. AIF | 9 Officers | 421 Other ranks |
| 9th Machine Gun Company. AIF | 2 Officer | 17 Other ranks |
| 9th Light Trench Mortor Battery. | 1 Officer | 2 Other ranks |
Victor was Wounded in Action at Messines on the 10th of June 1917 where he received a Gun Shot Wound to the Abdomin and Penis and was treated by the Australian Field Ambulance abd evacuated to Boulogue where he was admitted to the 3rd Canadian General Hospital. Victor was transported back to England and transfered to the War Hospital at Warren Road, Guilford for further surgery and treatment. Victor was to be returned to Australia as he was Medically Unfit for Active Service and embarked from England on board the H.S "Port Littleton" on the 19th of October 1917. He was sent to the No: 4 Australian General Hospital, Randwick, N.S.W. to recover before his discharge on the 9th of April 1918.
4th March 1918.
Informant. Sergeant: 134 Victor Percy MELVAINE. described
Private: 173 Thomas John SCHAEFER as about 5 ft 10 inches high, rather thin, curly hair, aged about 20. He came from
Enmore near Uralla. Informant states that on the morning of the big stunt against Messines both he and SCHAEFER were
in Platoon No: 1 of "A" Company. The hop-over took place at 3:10am. Informant's Platoon was told to dig a new trench in "No
Man's Land" and while so engaged SCHAEFER was hit by a shell at about 7:00am and killed instantly. He was the first
man in the Platoon to be hit. Informant did not actually see him struck, but saw him a few minutes afterwards. Informant is
sure that he was buried either at Dead Horse Corner or in a small graveyard on the edge of Ploegsteert Wood.
Informant stated that if necessary more information could be obtined from Lieutenant: Harlod Steinfeld
SUSMAN, now in charge of interned Germans at Trial Bay and who said he had written to the relatives, but perhaps his
letter never reached them.
No: 4 Australian General Hospital, Randwick, N.S.W. Aust.
Victor was a single Sawyer from West end Uralla, N.S.W. upon enlistment. He served with the 13th Infanrty Militia. His parents Charles and Elizabeth Jane Malvaine were married and had at least 14 children. Vincent Melvaine born 187? and died 1878 at Vegetable Creek, N.S.W. Death Cert:10193/1878. Charles Berridge Melvaine born 1875 Inverell, N.S.W. Birth Cert:12931/1875 and died 1952 at Sydney, N.S.W. Death Cert:25855/1952. Reuben Melvaine born 1876 at Vegetable Creek, N.S.W. Birth Cert:22014/1878 and died 1879 at Armidale, N.S.W. Death Cert:3981/1879. Stephen Melvaine born 1880 at Walcha, N.S.W. Birth Cert:9279/1880. Sidney Melvaine born 1881 at Walcha, N.S.W. Birth Cert:24343/1881 and died 1940 at Tingha, N.S.W. death Cert:1916/1940. Walter William Melvaine born 1883 at Walcha, N.S.W. Birth Cert:2760/1883 and died 1951 at sydney, N.S.W. Death Cert:195/1951. Herbert Melvaine born 1885 at Uralla, N.S.W. Birth Cert:29822/1885 and died 1887 at Uralla, N.S.W. Death Cert:11860/1887. Ellen F Melvaine born 1887 at Uralla, N.S.W. Birth Cert:31854/1887. Arthur Edward Melvaine born 1889 at Uralla, N.S.W. Birth Cert:31482/1889. Earl Frederick Melvaine born 1891 at Uralla, N.S.W. Birth Cert:35082/1891. LLoyd Herbert Melvaine born 1893 at Uralla, N.S.W. Birth cert:35644/1893 and died 1980 N.S.W. Death Cert:106702/1980. Victor Percy Melvaine born 04/09/1894 at Uralla, N.S.W. Birth Cert:34069/1894 and died 10/06/1981. Amber M A Melvine born 1900 at Uralla, N.S.W. Birth Cert:26966/1900. Theodora I Melvaine born 1902 at Uralla, N.S.W. Birth Cert:26996/1902.
Emmaville began as a private township known as Vegetable Creek. In 1872 tin was discovered here, causing a population explosion. Trooper: 349 Arthur Edward Melvaine served with the 12th Light Horse and Private: 2081 Earl Frederick Melvaine served with the 1st Battalion AIF.
Victor Percy Melvaine enlisted at Uralla, N.S.W. N439212 and served during World War 2. His son Maurice Victor Charles Melvaine was born on the 22nd of March 1920 and also seved during World war 2, NX40814 enlisting at Tamworth N.S.W. NX40814 Private Maurice Victor Charles Melvaine (Infantry), was awarded the Military Medal.
(Australian National Archives)
Under Construction 24/08/2011-25/08/2011.
