Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Melville Thomas Fuller was born on the 31st of August 1895 in Jamestown, South Australia. He was the eldest son of 8 children to Thomas Fuller and Sarah Ann Dear. Growing up in Hampton with his family, Melville attended school in Spalding, alongside his younger brothers, Frederick William, and Paris Nesbit Fuller. From a young age, Melville worked to support his large, growing family, first as a young labourer, and later, after his education, as a Blacksmith. His family’s religious faith was Methodist.

On January 5th, 1916, Melville enlisted in Adelaide to serve in the war. According to his attestation papers, Fuller had a dark complexion, grey eyes, and dark hair. He enlisted when he was 20 years and 4 months old. Melville was ranked as a private once he enlisted for the war.

After his enlistment, Melville underwent training at the B Company 2nd Depot in Adelaide and departed for Egypt from Port Adelaide on 24th April 1916, four months later. Fuller departed Port Adelaide aboard the HMAT A41 Bakara. Melville was taken on strength with the 3rd Training Regiment at Tel-el-Kebir 1st of June 1916. 

A month later, on the 23rd of July 1916, Melville was transferred to the 3rd Light Horse Brigade Machine Gun Squadron and taken on strength with the regiment in Ballybunion, Egypt. Fuller’s early service saw him placed in the Egyptian Expeditionary Forces, who were responsible for defending the Suez Canal and later in the war, advancing to Sinai and Palestine campaigns.

On the 1st of August 1916, Fuller was transferred to the 9th Light Horse Regiment, 16th Reinforcement in Egypt, and was taken on strength with the regiment a day later. On the 3rd and 5th of August 1916, the Battle of Romani occurred in Ballybunion, where the Allied forces defended the Ottoman attempt to conquer the Suez Canal. Melville most likely fought in this campaign as he was stationed in Ballybunion (the location of this campaign) during these dates. On the 4th of August, Fuller and his regiment transferred to Dueidar, from Ballybunion (37km from Suez Canal), which is approximately 27km from the Suez Canal.

After 6 months of service in the Middle East, Fuller transferred to rest camp from the 7th to the 13th of November. Rest camps offered troops time to recover after long periods of service and provided any necessary medical treatment to many soldiers. On January 8th, 1917, Fuller forfeited 2 days’ pay for neglecting to obey a Divisional Routine Order, ‘cutting of the palms’ at the Hod Massaid AIF campsite in Egypt. The order involved camp maintenance and earned him a minor disciplinary punishment.

Fuller’s most significant wartime experience occurred during the Second Battle of Gaza in Palestine. On 19th April 1917, while advancing towards the entrenched Ottoman troops, he was struck by a gunshot to his left shoulder, sustaining a serious wound. The unit diary from this day recorded intense artillery bombardments, with the enemy later opening a heavy fire, a major number of casualties sustained. Melville was admitted to the 14th Australian General Hospital on the 24th of April. His mother (next of kin) was informed of his injury but reassured that Fuller’s casualty was not life-threatening. Melville remained in hospital until the 20th of May 1917.

Following Melville’s recovery, he was transferred back to the 9th Light Horse Regiment. On the 9th of June 1917, he was officially taken on strength with the regiment in Egypt. Later in the year, on the 30th of August, Fuller was transferred to the 21st Veterinary Hospital in Bilbeis to complete an official shoe smith course for the horses used in campaigns in the Middle East. Melville completed this course during September and October 1917 to serve as a shoe smith. Finally, on the 10th of November 1917, Fuller was deemed ‘competent’ by the Board of Officers to officially perform the duties of shoeing smith. Melville was out of training 5 days later and proceeded to Moascar, Egypt.

On the 10th of July 1918, Fuller was hospitalised sick for an unrecorded illness, but many signs point to malaria – a common disease in the Middle East, especially during the hot months. 3 months later, he was admitted back into the hospital for malaria on the 20th of October 1918. Despite these setbacks, Melville served right until the end of hostilities.

On the 22nd of December 1918, Fuller embarked aboard the HT Leicestershire, arriving home in Adelaide on the 22nd of January 1919. He was discharged from his service for being ‘medically unfit’ 23rd March 1919.

After Melville returned home from the Middle East, he resumed his life in Burra, where he lived alongside many of his siblings, and his parents, and soon to be wife. Fuller married Gertrude Thelma Reynolds on the 4th of January 1921 in the Methodist church in Redruth, South Australia. Together, they settled between Redruth and Aberdeen. The couple had a son, Kenneth Rosslyn Fuller. Ken was a star cricket player and academic in high school, receiving multiple commendations for his achievements. He went on to serve his country as a flight sergeant in Germany as part of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). During service, Kenneth was an air gunner and was part of Group 5, Squadron 61 in the RAAF. On the 26th of November 1943, at 20 years old, Kenneth died as his Avro Lancaster I was shot down over Germany. His grave in Germany states very true words – ‘His duty fearlessly and nobly done. Lovingly remembered.’

Throughout his civilian life, Melville worked multiple trades to give back to his community. In Aberdeen, Fuller worked as a depot manager and local agent for many locally sourced products and later took on roles as the local coroner and community leader. Melville made a significant contribution to the Burra Bowling Club, serving as its loyal president. Additionally, Gertrude participated in the Aberdeen croquet club and stood alongside her husband throughout many community initiatives. Some examples are their support in organising the Red Cross Drive Appeal, and the R.S.L. Appeal for refurbishing the club rooms in Burra. Melville was also seen as a pallbearer for local WWI veterans.

Melville’s legacy is preserved on the Burra District Honour Roll. Melville died on the 6th of September 1979 and was cremated with his wife (died 3rd June 1993) in Adelaide, South Australia.