Brigadier Melville was born and educated as an engineer in Glasgow, Scotland. He enlisted in the ranks of the 6th Field Company Non-Permanent Active Militia (NPAM) in 1915, qualified as a sergeant a few months later and was granted a commission in the Canadian Engineers in 1916. Lieutenant Melville went to France in 1916 with the 12th Field Company. While in France he became adjutant to the Commander Royal Engineers (CRE), Canadian Corps Troops Engineers. Later he became the Field Engineer in charge of the bridging under the Chief Engineer, 1 Canadian Corps. During the war, he was awarded the Military Cross and Bar, the latter for conspicuous gallantry during the bridging operations at the Canal du Nord.
The looking for someone to ‘write the chapter on the Canadian sappers for the official war history committee, General Lindsay lighted once more on this maid-of-all-work Melville, who promptly went to work on the job’.
After World War I, Brigadier Melville focussed his attention on creating rehabilitation work for veterans. He was principal of the Vocational Training School for Veterans and later, became District Administrator for Soldier’s Civil Re-establishment for Eastern Ontario before returning to Ottawa as Director of Orthopaedic and Vetcraft Services. In 1938 he was appointed appointee Commissioner of the War Veterans’ Loan Board.
During the years between the World Wars, he continued to serve in the NPAM, and when war broke out in 1939 he Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel of 3rd District Engineers. However, wanting an active role, he was selected to organize and take overseas the 1st Pioneer Battalion RCE (later became 1st Battalion, RCE). From Commanding Officer of the 1st Battalion in England, he was appointed CRE 1 Canadian Corps Troops. From this job, he was soon after promoted and appointed Chief Engineer, 1 Canadian Corps. Early in 1943, he replaced Major-General Hertzberg as Chief Engineer of the First Canadian Army. He was admitted to the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire at the grade of Commander (CBE) for his service.
Later in 1943, the Prime Minister appointed him Chairman of the Canadian Pensions Commission. The Engineers hate to see him go but because of ‘his long experience and peculiar knowledge of veterans problems he was the best man for the job’. He remained in this post for 15 years.
In 1946, Brigadier Melville was appointed Honorary Aide de Camp (ADC) to His Excellency the Governor-General of Canada. In 1948, he became the first honorary Colonel-Commandant of the Corps of Royal Canadian Engineers, retiring from this post in 1968 at the age of 79 years. He was president of the Military Engineers’ Association of Canada. Brigadier Melville passed away on the 23rd January 1980 at the age of 91 years.
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