Stephen Melville

Stephen Alexander Melville
SSA OBE
Born 31 December 1904
Matatiele, Natal
Died June 17, 1977(1977-06-17) (aged 72)[1]:152
Pretoria, South Africa
Allegiance  South Africa
Service/branch South African Air Force
Years of service 1924 – 1960
Rank General
Awards

General Stephen A. Melville SSA OBE (1904–1977) was a South African military commander. During World War II he commanded air force formations in East Africa, North Africa, Madagascar, and Italy.

He matriculated from Grey College, Bloemfontein before going to work in a bank. He joined the Merchant Navy as a stoker. He joined the SA Mounted Rifles in 1924 as a trooper before transferring to the Artillery. In 1929 he was trained as a pilot and transferred to the South African Air Force.[1]:152

He served as Air Chief of Staff from 1954 to 1956, as Inspector-General from 1956 to 1958, and as Commandant-General,[2] i.e. head of the Union Defence Forces, from 1958 to 1960.

He later served on the Armaments Board until 1974. He was also the Government's representative on the Rand Water Board.[1]:153

Awards and Decorations

Then Colonel Melville was Mentioned in Dispatches in July 1943[3]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Uys, Ian (1992). South African Military Who's Who 1452-1992. Fortress Publishers. ISBN 0-9583173-3-X.
  2. ↑ Nöthling, C.J.; Meyers, E.M. (1982). "Leaders through the years (1912-1982)". Scientaria Militaria. 12 (2): 95.
  3. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 36083. p. 3092. 6 July 1943. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
Military offices
Preceded by
Hendrik Klopper		 Chief of the General Staff of the South African Defence Force
1958 – 1960 		Succeeded by
Pieter Grobbelaar
Preceded by
Hendrik Klopper		 Inspector General SADF
1956 – 1958 		Succeeded by
Pieter Grobbelaar
Preceded by
Harold Willmott		 Air Chief of Staff
1954 – 1956 		Succeeded by
Barend Viljoen


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