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On this day, 15 March, in 1942, one of the most intrepid men of the war entered the life of David Stirling & the SAS.
His name was Bob Melot (pic). A Belgian, born in 1895, & a WW1 veteran, who before the war was working as a cotton merchant in Alexandria.
This is his story
On this day, 15 March, in 1942, one of the most intrepid men of the war entered the life of David Stirling & the SAS.
His name was Bob Melot (pic). A Belgian, born in 1895, & a WW1 veteran, who before the war was working as a cotton merchant in Alexandria.
This is his story
2/
In the 1930s Bob & his wife spent much of their spare time driving into the desert in their Ford automobile. He learned Arabic & felt an affinity with the Bedouin.
On the outbreak of war he ‘offered his services to the British army & was commissioned as a subaltern'.
In the 1930s Bob & his wife spent much of their spare time driving into the desert in their Ford automobile. He learned Arabic & felt an affinity with the Bedouin.
On the outbreak of war he ‘offered his services to the British army & was commissioned as a subaltern'.
3/
Bob served in a British intelligence unit called G(R), which for a time was attached to the LRDG. G(R) was also the conduit through which GHQ passed instructions to the LRDG.
In his memoir, Eastern Approaches, Fitzroy Maclean wrote of Melot:
Bob served in a British intelligence unit called G(R), which for a time was attached to the LRDG. G(R) was also the conduit through which GHQ passed instructions to the LRDG.
In his memoir, Eastern Approaches, Fitzroy Maclean wrote of Melot:
4/
"He lived on his own or with the Bedouin for months on end, picking up information which he sent back by wireless.
For food, he depended on rations left by the LRDG & on what he could get from the Arabs. He was obliged to keep moving from hiding place to hiding place...
"He lived on his own or with the Bedouin for months on end, picking up information which he sent back by wireless.
For food, he depended on rations left by the LRDG & on what he could get from the Arabs. He was obliged to keep moving from hiding place to hiding place...
5/
… in order to avoid the search parties which the enemy sent out after him. It would have been an arduous life even for a much younger man."
… in order to avoid the search parties which the enemy sent out after him. It would have been an arduous life even for a much younger man."
6/
There's a good description of Bob in The LRDG by Bill Kennedy Shaw, their intel officer. Bob & another agent spent 6 weeks in the Wadi Gattara, 20 miles east of Benghazi. “They lay up in caves all day & at night, like animals of the jungle, came out for exercise & air...
There's a good description of Bob in The LRDG by Bill Kennedy Shaw, their intel officer. Bob & another agent spent 6 weeks in the Wadi Gattara, 20 miles east of Benghazi. “They lay up in caves all day & at night, like animals of the jungle, came out for exercise & air...
7/
...to put up their wireless masts & signal the day’s news to Cairo."
...to put up their wireless masts & signal the day’s news to Cairo."
8/
On 15 March 1942 2nd Lt John Olivey, LRDG, departed Siwa with his patrol, bound for Benina & Berca, which were to be raided.
The LRDG had with them David Stirling, Paddy Mayne & 6 other SAS, plus Bob Melot, who came along for the ride on account of his knowledge of the area.
On 15 March 1942 2nd Lt John Olivey, LRDG, departed Siwa with his patrol, bound for Benina & Berca, which were to be raided.
The LRDG had with them David Stirling, Paddy Mayne & 6 other SAS, plus Bob Melot, who came along for the ride on account of his knowledge of the area.
9/
Bob, who was awarded an MC, was badly wounded on the Benghazi raid of Sep 42. He recovered, rejoined the regt in Italy, & was wounded again at Termoli in October 1943.
He was back in action in 1944, parachuting into Occupied France on July 28.
Bob, who was awarded an MC, was badly wounded on the Benghazi raid of Sep 42. He recovered, rejoined the regt in Italy, & was wounded again at Termoli in October 1943.
He was back in action in 1944, parachuting into Occupied France on July 28.
10/
With him was Sgt Duncan Ridler, MM (pic),and signaller Edgar Fitch. The trio comprised the 1SAS intelligence section.
This is what Duncan told me about Bob, a man he admired & respected like no other:
With him was Sgt Duncan Ridler, MM (pic),and signaller Edgar Fitch. The trio comprised the 1SAS intelligence section.
This is what Duncan told me about Bob, a man he admired & respected like no other:
11/
“Bob was a wonderful chap to work for, a very cultured man. He introduced me to lots of European habits and customs. I remember after Augusta [Sicily, July 43] we went into camp for several days and he fished for red mullet. He brought them back for supper in his beret.”
“Bob was a wonderful chap to work for, a very cultured man. He introduced me to lots of European habits and customs. I remember after Augusta [Sicily, July 43] we went into camp for several days and he fished for red mullet. He brought them back for supper in his beret.”
12/
Paddy Mayne & Mike Sadler (pic, behind wheel) parachuted into France in early August & linked up with the intelligence section. Sadler described Melot to me as 'a great chap, a wonderful fellow.’
Paddy Mayne & Mike Sadler (pic, behind wheel) parachuted into France in early August & linked up with the intelligence section. Sadler described Melot to me as 'a great chap, a wonderful fellow.’
13/
Bob was particularly useful in France, Ridler told me, because a weakness of Paddy Mayne was he had little patience for protocol with village/town mayors. Anyone who knows France well knows the importance of the mayors. Never pays to slight them. So Bob 'pressed the flesh'.
Bob was particularly useful in France, Ridler told me, because a weakness of Paddy Mayne was he had little patience for protocol with village/town mayors. Anyone who knows France well knows the importance of the mayors. Never pays to slight them. So Bob 'pressed the flesh'.
14/
In October 1944 B & C Sqns 1SAS were in Brussels, Bob’s home town. Ridler lodged with the Melot family. Pictured is Bob showing off the jeep to his family
In October 1944 B & C Sqns 1SAS were in Brussels, Bob’s home town. Ridler lodged with the Melot family. Pictured is Bob showing off the jeep to his family
15/15
On Nov 1, Bob Melot was killed when his jeep skidded off the road. ‘Even to a regiment that had seen much death, Bob’s death shocked a lot of people,’ said Ridler.
The regiment acted as pall bearers at his funeral in
Brussels Communal Cemetery
Robert Melot. 1895 - 1944
On Nov 1, Bob Melot was killed when his jeep skidded off the road. ‘Even to a regiment that had seen much death, Bob’s death shocked a lot of people,’ said Ridler.
The regiment acted as pall bearers at his funeral in
Brussels Communal Cemetery
Robert Melot. 1895 - 1944
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