Exactly a century on from his heroic actions on the First World War battlefields of Mesopotamia, a Kirriemuir Black Watch soldier is to be remembered for the bravery which won him the nation’s highest military honour.
The centre of the wee red town will come to a standstill on Friday April 21 as a commemorative stone is unveiled in Kirrie Square, 100 years to the day since Charles Melvin’s conspicuous bravery, coolness and resource in action at Istabulat, in what is now Iraq, earned him the Victoria Cross.
Members of the Private’s family will join the Lord Lieutenant of Angus, Mrs Georgiana Osborne in unveiling the memorial stone at a ceremony which will also be attended by senior figures from the regimental association of the famous Black Watch.
The poignant ceremony is part of the remembrance of the sacrifice of the First World War and a national campaign by the Department for Communities and Local Government to honour all VC recipients – with Kirriemuir boasting no fewer than three of the 158 Scots who have been recognised with the award.
On the day for which his actions are again being honoured, the then-31-year-old soldier is said to have greatly inspired those around him with his confidence and courage.
Men from the company in the 2nd Battalion had advanced to within fifty yards of the front-line trench of a redoubt, but due to intense enemy fire had to lie down and wait for reinforcements.
Private Melvin did not wait.
He rushed on alone over ground being swept from end to end by rifle and machine gunfire until he reached the enemy’s trench, firing shots into it.
He killed one or two, and as others in the trench continued to fire on him, Pte Melvin jumped into it and attacked them with his bayonet in hand, rather than fixed on his rifle, which was damaged.
Under attack by the Angus soldier, most of the enemy fled but not before he had killed two more men and disarmed a further eight unwounded and one wounded.
He bound the wounds of the injured man and hustled all nine from the trench and marched them off, delivering them to an officer.
Private Melvin then took more ammunition and returned to the firing line, where he reported himself to his Platoon Sergeant.
His VC citation reveals: “All this was done, not only under intense machine gun and rifle fire, but the whole way back Private Melvin and his party were exposed to very heavy artillery barrage fire.”
Born in the coastal community of Craig, near Montrose, Charles Melvin died in July 1941 and is buried at Kirriemuir.
Roads around the Square, Bank Street and High Street, will be closed from 10.45am on April 21 for the ceremony, with diversions in place.
