Lieutenant John Stephen 'Jack' Mellish

John Mellish was born at Broken Hill, New South Wales, in January 1894 and grew up in Adelaide, where the family moved in 1907. John was one of eight children with two sisters and five brothers most of whom, along with John, had musical talent. As a young boy John was regarded as having a remarkable singing voice and sang regularly in Adelaide's St Peter's Cathedral choir. He won the gold medal for soprano in an open competition in Adelaide in 1908 and performed in concerts from 1907 to 1911. According to newspaper reports, he was regarded by many as Australia's finest soprano at this time.

In November 1908, the Port Augusta Dispatch reported on a concert given by the Mellish Melody Makers in the Port Augusta Town Hall, given by John and members of his family. In January 1911, the Mellish Musical Family gave a concert at the Adelaide Hospital where John, his brother Hector, and sisters Isabella and Grace, sang a variety of songs. John's eldest brother, Roy, was an accomplished church organist at an early age, and the conductor of the Adelaide Philharmonic Society; he was married to the celebrated contralto, Madame Clara Serena. John was employed as a clerk with Messrs Wilkinson & Co, wholesale and manufacturing grocers in Adelaide, before he enlisted with the Australian Imperial Force (AIF).

Mandatory militia service was required from 1910 under the terms of The Defence Act 1909, meaning that Mellish had served in the 79th Battalion Senior Cadets for a year. This was followed by 2 years with the 79th Infantry, and then one year with the Regimental Signallers at the time of his enlistment.

Mellish enlisted in the AIF at Keswick, South Australia, on 17 May 1915 and was attached to the 32nd Battalion. Due possibly to his earlier military service, Mellish was promoted to corporal in August 1915 and then sergeant in September 1915. On 18 November 1915 Mellish embarked with his unit for Egypt aboard the troopship Geelong.
During this journey, Mellish is recorded as performing in a concert on 11 December 1915, seven days before disembarking at Suez. In this concert, Mellish sang the opening two songs after the overture, singing "The wonderful garden of love" and "Two eyes of grey". Later in the program Mellish sang "Mother Machree".

Mellish served in Egypt until June 1916, when his unit was transferred to France. In September 1916, Mellish was selected for officer training at Balliol College, Oxford University, after which he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the AIF in October 1916. He went to France in December 1916 and was attached for duty with the 28th Battalion. In September 1917, he was admitted to hospital in Rouen, France, for treatment for a gunshot wound to the thigh, and rejoined his unit in late October 1917. It was during this period in action that Mellish was mentioned in despatches by Sir Douglas Haig for distinguished and gallant services and devotion to duty. In December 1917, Mellish was transferred to the Australian Flying Corps and began training at the School of Military Aeronautics in Reading, England. He qualified as a Flying Officer, and in March 1918 was posted to the 8th Training Squadron, Leighterton. In June 1918, Mellish graduated as a Flying Officer (Pilot), continuing his training with the 8th Training Squadron, until he was seriously injured on 21 October 1918 in an aircraft accident and admitted to hospital in England.

Because of his injury and the cessation of hostilities, Mellish embarked for Australia aboard the troopship Derbyshire on 6 March 1919. He disembarked at Adelaide on 20 April 1919 and was discharged on 12 June 1919.

Three of Mellish's brothers also enlisted. Hector served in the 9th Light Horse, was seriously wounded in action in Palestine, returned to Australia in July 1917, and died at the Keswick Military Hospital in 1936 as a result of his war injury. Another brother, Donald, was en route to Egypt when hostilities ceased. His brother Peter was given an early discharge for being medically unfit. Both John Mellish and his brother Hector, are listed on a memorial scroll in the foyer of Scots Church in Adelaide.

After discharge, Mellish appears to have returned to his former occupation as a clerk, living in suburban Adelaide, although he did perform in several concerts in Adelaide in August and September 1924.

Mellish married Elva Blanche Fraser in 1926, a daughter was born in 1927 and a son in 1930. John Mellish died in June 1980 at the age of 86.