Hi

Yes, I did see the memorial, and a fine one it is too. . I was actually in the area walking, but I made a detour to Creswell because I’d seen an article in the local paper about the 1950 mine disaster , and was looking for a memorial to it in the church graveyard:

http://www.healeyhero.co.uk/rescue/pits/Cresswell/cres_menu.htm

This is when I came across Sgt Mellish’s headstone. The miners memorial (and some of their graves) aren’t actually in the churchyard though – i found them in a more modern cemetery about a mile away. I noticed there was a Mellish killed in that disaster – William aged 55. I wonder if this was John’s father or uncle? Very sad