Countess of Wessex attends Dunmow unveiling ceremony

By reporter1

THE UNVEILING of a memorial plaque for a brave First World War chaplain turned into a royal occasion when the ceremony was attended by the Countess of Wessex.

Sophie, the wife of Prince Edward, made the trip to Dunmow to remember her great uncle, the Rev Noel Mellish.

A bronze plaque was dedicated to the courage of the man who was vicar of Dunmow for 20 years from 1928.

Noel headed into No Man's Land 17 times to rescue 22 men, and received the Victoria Cross.

He died, aged 82, in 1962 but nothing was put in place to commemorate him.

Retired clergyman Peter Street, now chairman of Dunmow Historical and Literary Society, decided something needed to be done.

“I was asked to lead the Remembrance Day service in 2006 and shared Noel's story.

“I told the mayor there was nothing to commemorate Noel – he immediately agreed something should be done.”

Mr Mellish conducted the marriage ceremony of Sophie's parents and her grandparents.

His daughter Claire Mellish, now living in Somerset, proudly unveiled the bronze plaque close the war memorial in front of a crowd of 200 people last Wednesday.

The high street was closed for the ceremony as buglers from the Royal Fusiliers heralded a minute's silence.

Written on the plaque is part of Noel's Victoria Cross citation and an extra sentence notes that on September 3 1939, a messenger entered Dunmow's church asking Rev Mellish to announce the start of the Second World War.

Peter said: “We researched the family and had nine members here from several generations.

“We're hoping those who couldn't make it will attend this year's Remembrance Day service.”

Sophie happily chatted to joint organiser Peter.

Having arrived first, she told him she was looking forward to meeting members of the family.

Peter said: “Now Noel Mellish will be remembered every year.”