On 28 March 2015, the late Richard Laughton of Malton, Ontario submitted his investigative report on Sergeant Arthur Melvin of the 31st Canadian Infantry Battalion to the CWGC. By his own admission, one of Mr Laughton’s simplest cases. Details of his findings amounted to less than one page. At the bottom of the same page, he had one request – correct the headstone for Plot I, Row C, Grave 2 in Bois-Carré British Cemetery.
Arthur Melvin born 3 June 1887, in Udny, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. He lived with his parents and nine siblings in Whiteashes, Aberdeenshire, until he immigrated to Canada sometime after 1901.
Enlistment of Private Arthur Melvin
Private Arthur Melvin 4469666 enlisted with the 56th Battalion on 15 August 1915 in Calgary. Arthur stood 5′ 6″ tall with light complexion, gray eyes and fair hair. A pipe fitter by trade, just a month shy of 28 years of age. His mother Helen (Nellie) Melvin lived at South Lodge, Pittrichie, By Whiteashes, Aberdeen, Scotland. While still in Calgary, Pte Melvin twice admitted to hospital for pneumonia in November and December of 1915. Good recovery.
Private Arthur Melvin sailed with the 56th Battalion from Halifax per SS BALTIC on 23 March 1916.
France
Pte Melvin transferred to 31st Battalion, arrived in France on 29 June 1916, and on 31 July 1916 arrived at his unit in Voormezeele.
Corporal Arthur Melvin
Following the Battle of Flers-Courcelette, Pte Melvin promoted Corporal in the field at Fieffes on 22 September 1916.
Sergeant Arthur Melvin
Going into Brigade Reserve from TARA VALLEY, Corporal Arthur Melvin promoted Sergeant on 1 October 1916 in Pozieres.
Battle of Vimy Ridge
Sergeant Arthur Melvin first reported missing, and later presumed dead on 9 April 1917, in the effort to clear and hold the village of Thélus.
The “Certificate of Death file for Sergeant Melvin reports that he was killed in action and “whilst taking part in the attack at Thelus he was instantly killed by a direct hit an enemy 77 m.m. shell which struck him full in the face”.
Bois-Carré British Cemetery
Bois-Carré British Cemetery begun by units of the 1st Canadian Division in April 1917, and used until the following June. These 61 graves in Plot I (a Canadian soldier, accidentally killed by UXO in 1919, also buried in Plot I, Row F). On 4 June 1919, while walking towards Roclincourt, Pte Wilfred Acey Nickerson 318176 picked up the nose cap of a shell, and proceeded to open it causing an explosion which killed him almost immediately.
On 12 June 1919, Private Nathanael Earl Kern, also of the Canadian War Graves Detachment accidentally killed in explosion of a gas cylinder. He died from phosgene gas exposure at No. 15 CCS, and buried at Houchin British Cemetery, the last CEF casualty buried on the Western Front.
The grave of Private John Walker Brebner 859652 brought into Plot VI of Bois-Carré British Cemetery on 11 December 1919. The date of the image below, that of July 1918, must mean this is the battlefield burial of Pte Brebner.
Investigative Report
Excerpts from the report submitted by the late Richard Laughton of Malton, Ontario.
Details of Findings
The findings are conclusive that the remains in Plot 1 Row C Grave 2 are Sergeant Arthur Melvin of the 31st Canadian Infantry Battalion, killed in action at Vimy Ridge on Monday April 9, 1917.
Certificate of Death
The “Certificate of Death” file for Sergeant Melvin reports that he was killed in action and “whilst taking part in the attack at Thelus he was instantly killed by a direct hit an enemy 77 m.m. shell which struck him full in the face” (Attachment 1). It is entirely likely that he could not be visually recognized by a burial party.
Identification
The identification of Sergeant Melvin straight forward as he was the only Sergeant of the 31st Battalion listed on the Vimy Memorial killed in action and also missing in 1917. Further confirmation comes from the clear fact that the date of death was exactly as reported, 9 April 1917 (Attachment #2). Please note that for this investigation we did not show the CWGC table of casualties as they distinguish Sergeants in the 31st Battalion from those in the “X” Coy of the battalion. Our spreadsheet, created from the CWGC database, separates them as “unit 1” and “unit 2” so they can be grouped and shown together.
Sergeants
We searched the CWGC data base for any variations on “Sergeant” (Company Sergeant Major, Quarter Master Sergeant, and Lance Sergeant) plus those acting in any capacity. There are none listed, thus there is no attachment.
GRRF
The “Graves Registration Report Form” shows for Plot 1 Row C Grave 2 a “31/Canadian Bn. UNKNOWN SGT. 9.4.17”. This is an exact match, and the only match, to Sergeant Arthur Melvin (Attachment #3).
Due to the simplicity of this case, it does not appear necessary to provide any additional information at this time. The actions of the Canadian Expeditionary Force in the attack on Vimy Ridge on April 9, 1917 are well documented. It is also known that all four (4) Divisions of the CEF participated in the attack.
Action Required
“The ‘Investigative Report’ has been prepared in accordance with the procedures and criteria set out by the CWGC, should they wish to make any changes to the commemoration details. It is my belief that the evidence in this matter is straight forward and that the records and headstone for Plot 1 Row C Grave 2 should be amended to record the new information.”
Richard Laughton, 28 March 2015
Richard VanWyck Laughton passed away on 30 August 2020. Part of Richard’s retirement also spent locating lost soldiers from the Great War. It was truly a passion for him and he derived immense satisfaction from his many successes (as did their families).
Epilogue
In 2019 CWGC received a report from an independent researcher raising the possibility that an unknown grave was that of Sergeant Arthur Davidson Melvin. After extensive research by the CWGC and Canadian Directorate of History and Heritage, the identity was confirmed by the Canadian Casualty Identification Program Review Board.
In 2023, great-great-nephew Stuart Neilson, a police officer in Scotland, wished he and his family could be present at the rededication ceremony.
Rededication Service
A Rededication Service for Sergeant Arthur Melvin held at CWGC Bois-Carré British Cemetery, Thélus, France on 30 October 2024.
The service, organised the Canadian Armed Forces, attended by Canadian Defence staff, Regimental representatives, CWGC staff and local dignitaries (no relatives).
