Heworth St. Mary
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Michael Mellan was one of 8 known children, 4 sons and 4 daughters, father and mother Patrick born 1829 and Bridget born 1836 in Ireland. They had come to England by 1863 along with their daughter Helen, their eldest son Patrick Jnr and all his siblings including Michael were born at Heworth, Gateshead County Durham, Michael was their second son born 1869. His father was employed mainly as a labourer all his life, they lived in 1871 at Heworth Lane moving 10 years later to Bottle Houses, Bill Quay, he worked in the chemical industry along with Patrick (18).
Aged 20 years in 1889 Michael married in the district of Gateshead to Emma Gray, she had died by 1901 and Michael returned to live with his parents at 8, Prospect Terrace, Heworth employed as a coachman in service, only his sister Mary Ann (24) was still living at home, employed as a labourer at the paint factory. August 3rd 1906 he married at St Patrick’s Church, Felling, Alice Doran born 1882, native of Bill Quay, County Durham, she had a 3 year old son Joseph, born out of wedlock, July 9th 1903. They were living in 1911 at 5, White House, Bill Quay where Michael was employed at the shipyards as a labourer. Later that year, November 27th, his wife gave birth to their first child, Alice.
Michael Mellan enlisted at London aged 45 years, August 26th 1915, assigned as Pioneer 117807 to the Royal Engineers Labour Corp. He remained in England until his departure as part of the British Expeditionary Force, September 3rd 1915, two months later his wife had gave birth to a second child Michael Jnr., November 20th 1915.
Whilst on active service he was admitted to hospital, January 29th 1916, suffering from bronchitis, discharged February 10th he was sent to No.4 General Base Depot at Rouen and admitted to the 5th General Hospital on the 17th. Having been transferred February 23rd from the 6th Labour Corp to the 3rd Provisional Coy he was invalided back to England the following day. He underwent medical examination at the Royal Hospital Chelsea and was officially discharged under King’s Regulations 392 (xvi), “no longer physically fit for service,” September 16th 1916. His ailment was deemed to have been existing at the time of his enlistment and had only been slightly aggravated by his military service, they therefore concluded he was not entitled to a pension.
Pioneer 117807 Michael Mellan Royal Engineers died July 4th 1918 and was interred at Heworth St Mary Churchyard in the SE part. His widow Alice paid 9 shillings and 7 pence for an additional inscription to be added to his military headstone it reads, "On Whose Soul Sweet Jesus Have Mercy- R.I.P.” Recipient of the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Michael Mellan is remembered at Heworth as M. Mellon on H92.03 and at Felling as Michael Mellon on F32.06
