Stephen Melville
| Stephen Alexander Melville SSA OBE | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born |
31 December 1904 Matatiele, Natal |
| Died |
June 17, 1977 (aged 72)[1]:152 Pretoria, South Africa |
| Allegiance |
.svg.png){kind=small} South Africa |
| Service/branch | South African Air Force |
| Years of service | 1924 – 1960 |
| Rank | General |
| Awards | |
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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]
-
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Star of South Africa (SSA)
-
Africa Service Medal (WWII)
See also
References
- 1 2 3 Uys, Ian (1992). South African Military Who's Who 1452-1992. Fortress Publishers. ISBN 0-9583173-3-X.
- ↑ Nöthling, C.J.; Meyers, E.M. (1982). "Leaders through the years (1912-1982)". Scientaria Militaria. 12 (2): 95.
- ↑ 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 |
Chiefs of the South African military | |
|---|---|
| Chief of the Union Defence Force 1912–1957 .svg.png){kind=small} | |
| Commandant General SADF 1958–1973 .svg.png){kind=small} | |
| Chief of the SADF 1973–1994 | |
| Chief of the SANDF 1994–present | |