Stephen Melville

General Stephen Alexander Melville, SSA, OBE (31 December 1904 – 17 June 1977) was a South African Air Force officer. He commanded air force formations in East Africa, North Africa, Madagascar, and Italy during the Second World War, and rose to Air Chief of Staff (1954–56) and Commandant General of the South African Defence Force (1958–60).

Stephen Alexander Melville
Born	31 December 1904 Matatiele, Natal
Died	17 June 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
Commands held	Commandant General of the South African Defence Force Air Chief of Staff
Battles/wars	Second World War East African Campaign Battle of Madagascar Italian Campaign
Awards	Star of South Africa Officer of the Order of the British Empire Mentioned in Despatches

Early life

Melville was born in Matatiele, Natal, on 31 December 1904, and was educated at Grey College, Bloemfontein. He then worked in a bank, and later joined the Merchant Navy as a stoker. He joined the South African Mounted Rifles in 1924 as a trooper before transferring to the Artillery. In 1929, after a short boxing career in South Africa and the United States,[2] Melville was trained as a pilot and transferred to the South African Air Force.[1]^:152

Air Force career

Melville commanded air force formations in the East African Campaign, Battle of Madagascar and Italian Campaign during the Second World War. For his service, Melville was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, and Mentioned in Despatches in July 1943.[3]

Melville served as Air Chief of Staff from 1954 to 1956, as Inspector-General from 1956 to 1958, and as Commandant General,[4] the head of the Union Defence Force, from 1958 to 1960. He was awarded the Star of South Africa in June 1960.

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

References

1. Uys, Ian (1992). South African Military Who's Who 1452–1992. Fortress Publishers. ISBN 0-9583173-3-X.
2. "Eastern Cape Newsletter – January 2017 – South African Military History Society". Retrieved October 10, 2018.
3. "No. 36083". The London Gazette. 6 July 1943. p. 3092.
4. Nöthling, C.J.; Meyers, E.M. (1982). "Leaders through the years (1912–1982)". Scientaria Militaria. 12 (2): 95.

Military offices
Preceded by Hendrik Klopper	Commandant General of the South African Defence Force 1958–1960	Succeeded by Pieter Grobbelaar
	Inspector General South African National Defence Force 1956–1958
Preceded by Harold Willmott	Air Chief of Staff 1954–1956	Succeeded by Barend Viljoen