Stephen Melville
| Stephen Alexander Melville | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born |
31 December 1904 Matatiele, Natal |
| Died |
June 17, 1977 (aged 72)[1] Pretoria, South Africa |
| Allegiance |
 South Africa |
| Service/branch | South African Air Force |
| Years of service | 1924-1960 |
| Rank | General |
| Awards |
Star of South Africa (Decoration) Order of the British Empire |
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 SAMR 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]
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.[3]
See also
Awards and Decorations
Then Colonel Melville was Mentioned in Dispatches in July 1943[4]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Uys, Ian (1992). South African Military Who's Who 1452-1992. Fortress Publishers. p. 152. ISBN 0-9583173-3-X.
- ↑ C.J. Nöthling, E.M. Meyers (1982). "Leaders through the years (1912-1982)". Scientaria Militaria 12 (2): 95.
- ↑ Uys, Ian (1992). South African Military Who's Who 1452-1992. Fortress Publishers. p. 153. ISBN 0-9583173-3-X.
- ↑ http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/36083/pages/3092
| 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 Harold Willmott |
Chief of Staff of the South African Air Force 1954-1956 |
Succeeded by Barend Viljoen |