“By the way, you will no doubt be pleased to hear that I have been awarded the D.S.M. for the evacuation of Greece.” It was by this casually worded sentence, towards the end of a letter, that Mrs. Mepham, of Park-view, Wymington-road, Rushden, learned that her husband, Chief Petty Officer Alfred Percival Mepham, had become a war hero.
Chief Petty Officer Mepham, who was born in London, has spent practically all his life on the sea and has served in a large number of ships and had many adventures. He joined the Navy as a boy in 1915, served in the Great War, and was wounded at Zeebrugge. As a result of this he participated in the ballot for the award of a V.C., and was mentioned in the “London Gazette.”
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C.P.O. Mepham
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After the war he continued in service on H.M. Ships Powerful, Impregnable, Defiance, Devonshire and Princess Royal and spent 10 years on the X1, Shark, Sturgeon, and other submarines. He was for three years with the Navy in China.
In April, 1939, Chief Petty Officer Mepham finished his allotted years of service and returned home to his wife and daughter, taking up work with Messrs. Fred Hawkes, Ltd., of Portland-road, Rushden.
“We had always promised my daughter that she should have a daddy when she was 12,” said Mrs. Mepham, “and then they took him back.” In July, 1939, he was called up to do two months’ training. Then the war broke out and he had to return for full-time service. Thus, except for leave, which never lasted very long, he has spent three months at home since he joined the Navy in 1915.
In the present war he has served on another submarine and a corvette, the ship on which he earned his decoration. While he was serving abroad a coincidence took place which is worthy of mention. He went ashore for a short leave and met his brother-in-law, Driver Philip Dixon, who is serving with the R.A.S.C. Together they were able to celebrate a wedding anniversary.
C.P.O. Mepham has a father and mother living in London, and he is a member of the British Legion.
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