Roy Gareth Hughesdon Mellersh

From Oct 1937, Gareth was a Trainee Quantity Surveyor for 3 years at Arthur J Willis, 41/42 Parliament Street, Westminster, London, SW1 (till Sep 1940).
In August 1939, with his sister Barbara, Gareth stayed with the Louwage family at their holiday home at Coxyde or Koksijde, Belgium.
On 03 December 1940,Gareth joined the Haberdashers’ Company at the age of 21 (during the Blitz of WW2). He was admitted to the Freedom not by patrimony but by servitude. He was deemed to have served an apprenticeship to a Master, Harold Charles Hughesdon (1897 – 1967), his first cousin once removed (a first cousin of Gareth’s mother). Gareth’s maternal grandfather Alfred Hughesdon had been a Haberdasher.
During WW2, Roy Gareth was in the Army in artillery in heavy anti-aircraft from Sep 1940 to Jun 1946. On 12 September 1940 Gareth was accepted into the army. He trained in artillery in heavy anti-aircraft in Berkshire and elsewhere, in 359/113 HAA Battery RA. After 8 weeks, became a bombardier (equivalent to corporal in army). Early 1941: Joined 359th H.A.A. Battery, R.A., at Nottingham. On 01 August 1941,commissioned (as 2nd Lieutenant) and posted back to same unit (359/113 HAA Regt RA). For a few months April - August 1941 was at Llandrindod Wells. From Aug 1942 to Oct 1943, he was in the Falkland Islands (but saw no action), being invalided out with asthma. 01 October 1942: War Substantive Lieutenant. Whilst on the Falklands, Gareth saw the semi-submerged "SS Great Britain". [which unknown to him, his great grandfather George Carey Parker had sailed on]. Travelling back to Britain via Montevideo, Gareth saw there the masts of the semi-submerged "Graf Spey." November 1943: posted to 435/132 (M) Battery: site commander in Enfield, Middlesex (by chance near parents). On 04 Jan 1945, as Adjutant & Quartermaster on Battalion Headquarters, embarked for North West Europe. Dec 1944/Jan 1945: from Avonmouth to Ostend, to near Brussels – firing at V1 rockets. In the same brigade was Mary Churchill (daughter of the Prime Minister – so no great fear for safety!). For water, used melted snow. January 1945: For about 6 months, as a British Army officer, Gareth was stationed near Louvain, Belgium, and often visited the Louwage family (last seen in Summer 1939) at 180 rue Americaine, Brussels. [08 May 1945 WW2 ended in Europe] Unit disbanded on 05 June 1945. From 18 June 1945: 71 DPACS (Displaced Persons Assembly Centre S): Admin at Koln, 27 Sep 1945: Acting Captain and Officer Commanding at Koln, 06 Oct 1945: OC at Rheda.
For 15 months 13 Nov 1946 - 11 Jan 1948 Gareth was in the Control Commission in Germany, mainly in Hanover: 102(R) military government detachment. Involved relief work for DPs (displaced persons), including Polish ex-POWs (ex-prisoners of war) at civilian camp Rheda.
On 13 Jan 1948, in Rugby, Warwickshire at the Inland Revenue (tax) office to start his new job, Gareth was shown round by Joyce Happer, whom he later married. 1949 - marriage (1951) :63 Lodge Road, West Bromwich, Staffordshire; July 1951 (with wife Joyce): 3 Victoria Street, West Bromwich, Staffordshire (till abt 1953).
Later interests in Birmingham included the environment & rambling; pedestrian affairs; and Church work – was on PCC & was church treasurer.
In 1980, Gareth was visited in Moseley, Birmingham, by his American relative, Nancy Eykelbosch (and a friend), from Portland, Oregon.