Acting Sergeant Melvin Law

with additional material from Peter Hawkridge.

Melvin was born in the 1st quarter of 1894 to Thomas and Jane. He was the 2nd youngest of 12 children known to have been born to the family. Thomas was born in Chapeltown, Sheffield, but his wife came from Scholes. The family can be traced in the village back to Melvin’s paternal grandfather who was born here in 1826. In 1901, Melvin was living with his parents and brothers and sisters at 112 Scholes Village.

No 112 Scholes Village during Village Fete, 2005

Melvin played for Scholes Cricket Club together with his elder brothers Albert, Walter and Matthew. Although he has not been identified, he should be present on the Club’s double victory photo of 1913 as he certainly played during that season, when the Club’s 1st and 2nd elevens won Division 1 and Division 3 respectively of the Rotherham and Sheffield League.

Melvin enlisted in the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, service number 19467 in the 9th battalion. He served from at least 10th December 1915. Like Ernest Emmerson, he saw action in the battle of the Somme. His regiment took part in an offensive launched on 1st July 1916 on a line from Gommecourt to Maricourt to capture villages held by the Germans. Their objective was Thiepval. The attack was a complete failure, and losses on the first day were catastrophic. Melvin was killed in action on that day, the same day as Ernest. He was 22 years old. He is commemorated at the Thiepval memorial in France, but like many of the fallen of the Somme, has no known grave. He is also listed on the memorial at Thorpe Hesley Church.

Thiepval Memorial. Memorial Reference Pier and Face 11C and 12A

Thorpe Hesley Church War Memorial. Melvin is listed on the left hand face.