Medal Index Card
Newcastle Journal Wednesday 25/10/1916
Tench Map of Mouquet [Mucky] Farm
Morpeth Herald Friday 03/11/1916
Melvin Leslie was born at Ridge Terrace, Bedlington in December 1894, the second eldest of 4 children of Robert S. Studdy, [born 13th December 1868, West End Glebe Row, Bedlington, son of William Studdy, a coal miner, {born 1802, died September 1881 at Sleekburn Lane, Bedlington, and his wife Mary Robinson, born 1823, resided in 1891 at Hirst Terrace, Bedlington, with her son Robert, who was a Grocers Assistant, died 7th November 1899}, died 18th November 1942, at the General Hospital, Westgate Road, Newcastle-upon-Tyne], and Margaret Elizabeth [nee Davison], Studdy, [born 12th August 1867, Blyth, died 18th August 1953, daughter of James, born 1839 and his wife Margaret born 1841], they were married in June 1891.
The other children were Hilda Evelyn born June 1892, but died July 1892, John born and died 1898 and Louis William Studdy, born 9th February 1896, Ridge Terrace, Bedlington, who also served in the R.A.M.C., he married a Eleanor V. Scott, in 1926, died in 1971, [who was born on the 1st April 1897, in 1939, Louis and Eleanor were residing at 82 Marine Avenue, Whitley Bay, Northumberland, and Louis was described as a Physician and Surgeon. There was at least two children and also a servant Susannah H.W. born 30th April 1911] also residing.
In 1901 the family were living in Ridge Terrace, Bedlington, except Louis William who was at 4 Fairfield Road, Jesmond with his uncle, James Tindal, who was a Tailor's Cutter, his wife Isabella Tindal, born 1855, Bedlington, Lotty Tindal, born 1887 Bedlington, Northumberland, Teacher at a Board School.
Robert had the position as secretary of the local Equitable Co-operative Society, and a member of the Ashington Urban Council when he was residing at Ashington. He also was a member of the St Cuthbert's Free mason Lodge, nu 1902, at Bedlington, where he was initiated on the 6th Match 1906. Passed on the 3rd April and raised July 27th.
Melvin attended the Bothal School, then the Whitley Memorial School. Then was granted an Exhibition from Morpeth Grammar School in 1912, he attended this school from 1908 to 1912. He then was educated at Armstrong College, as a Student at Newcastle, 1912-1915, part of the University of Durham to study Civil Engineering.
Melvin was also in the Durham University O.T.C., and was training with the reserve 15th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, taking a commission as a temporary 2nd Lieutenant from the 22nd January 1915, before being gazetted and transferred into the regular army still as a temporary 2nd Lieutenant on the 20th October 1916.
His brother Louis William also was a student at Armstrong College where he studied at the School of Medicine, from the 1st October 1913, registered with the G.M.C. on the 13th October 1913.
By 1911, Robert had been promoted to the position as Manager of the Ashington Cooperative Store and the family were living at Alne House, Ashington. He was also a Councillor. The family continued to move due to Robert's work, and were living at 14, Urfa Terrace, South Shields after 1912.
In 1926 Robert and Margaret were residing at 1000 Shields Road, Walker, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
Melvin was embarked to the Mediterranean as part of the M.E.F., on the 14th November 1915, with the 8th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers.
In July 1915 it departed for the Mediterranean and landed at Gallipoli on the 7th August. they were assigned to the 34th Brigade, 11th (Northern) Division and fought in the Battle of Sari Bair. In January 1916 it moved to Egypt where it formed part of the Suez Canal Defences, and in July to France where it spent the rest of the war (still in 34th Brigade, 11th Division).
Battle of Thiepval Ridge.
Capture of Mouquet [Mucky] Farm, 11th Division. On the right of the Canadians, the Division attacked, 34th Brigade leading with the 8th Northumberland and 9th Lancashire Fusiliers. A bombing party of Lancs seized the known exits of Mouquet Farm thirty seconds before zero hour. Both Battalions reached the first objective, the German support trench. The 5th Dorsets in support suffered severe casualties from the German barrage which fell on the British front-line trench as they were moving up.
The Northumberland Fusiliers met strong resistance, especially around the deep dugouts of the Zollern Redoubt. Momentum was lost and moppers-up were killed almost to the man. The only remaining officer collected some 50 survivors and dugin on the right facing the Zollern Trench. A few other survivors were in shell holes to the west of the old German second position.
The Lancashire Fusiliers had their right flank almost annihilated by fire from Zollern Redoubt, and met stiff resistance in Midway Line, a trench that connected Mouquet Farm with the Schwaben Redoubt. Only one officer and a few men reached Zollern Trench but were isolated. The 5th Dorsets pushed on to reinforce the Fusiliers.
At Mouguet Farm the fighting was confused, The 11th Manchesters relieved the Lancashire Fusiliers. The two tanks that were due to assist in the attack became ditched before reaching the farm, but the crew of one dismounted its machine-guns and helped in the fight. The 5th Dorsets also sent men up, as did 6th East Yorks [Pioneers]. At 5.30 pm smoke bombs finally cleared the cellars of the survivors of the garrison, 55 men and 1 officer.
Wednesday 27th September.
11th Division, The Germans evacuated Zollern Redoubt and [the] 8th Northuberland Fusiliers assembled here from 6.30 am on. Later they were withdrawn.
Source : The Somme Day by Day Account Arms and Armour Press, Chris MacCarthy, ISBN 1860198732 2002.
Extract from the War Diary : Mouquet Farm was known to be held by about 50 Germans with at least one machine gun. In order to prevent this party interfering with he advance of the assaulting troops, special bombing party was detailed from 9th Lancashire Fusiliers to rush all the entrances to the Farm half a minute before the remainder of the troops were to leave the trenches.
This party was completely successful in its mission and was relieved by a similar party from 11th Manchester Regt, under Lieut Cooper who was killed shortly afterwards. To assist this operation of clearing the Farm, the two tanks allotted to the Brigade were to pass the Farm on their way to Zollern Redoubt.
1.30 pm They both drove into a deep hole and remained stuck there for the next three days. Had these tanks been able to push on to Zollern Redoubt that would have been invaluable.
4.30 pm At this time the occupants of the Farm were causing many casualties, so Lieut, Dancer, 5th Dorset Regiment, the Officer of the tank no 542 and its crew and Lieut Kohnstamm and six men of 11th Manchester Regiment and a sergeant and six men of the 6th East Yorkshire Pioneers lined the top of a mound on the building, and placed 2 Machine Guns from the tanks to cover the Western and Northern entrances to the farm, while the bombing parties of the 11th Manchester Regiment threw bombs down the entrances to the Farm.
Melvin was wounded on the 27th September whilst leading his men. He died of his wounds in the 2nd Western Hospital, Whitworth Street, Manchester.
At the time of Melvin's death, his parents were at 14 Urfa Terrace, South Shields. They eventually resided at 82 Marine Avenue, Monkseaton.
He left effects of £119 5s 9d in his will, and which was granted to his mother as advised by Melvin.
His funeral took place on the 26th October 1916 and the streets were lined with thousands of people, the cortege was headed by a firing party consisting of about 40 men under the command of Lieutenant C. Gibbens which was followed by the Durham Light Infantry regimental band under Bandmaster H. Eldridge.
In 1939 Melvin's parents were at 45 Hartley Avenue, Whitley Bay, Northumberland, and his father was as Medical Publisher Representative.
When Robert died in 1942 he left £1127 10s 8d to his widow, of 45 Hartley Avenue, Whitley Bay, Northumberland.
Acknowledgements: Carole Fife
Morpeth Herald 27/10/1916 carries a brief obituary:
Lieut [sic]. Melvin Studdy, N.F., So. Shields died on October 22nd from wounds received in action on Sept. 25th. The deceased officer was the eldest son of Mr and Mrs R. Studdy, 14 Urfa Terrace, South Shields, formerly of Ashington.
Melvin Leslie Studdy is remembered at Ashington on A17.06, Morpeth on M17.06 and M17.12, in Newcastle on NUT063 and NUT263, in Bedlington on B15.20 and at Alnwick in A11.43 page 8, also at Durham in D47.151 page 95
