Failsworth Royal Engineers rename reserve centre in honour of brave Army hero Mick

The Failsworth 202 Royal Engineers held a ceremony to rename the Army Reserve Centre to Melia House in honour of Cpl Mick Melia, an honoured member of the 202 who sadly lost his life in the Falklands conflict.

Michael (Mick) Melia was born in Oldham in 1951.

He attended St Anselm’s Secondary Modern School and he excelled at sport, especially football.

Leaving school at 15, he trained as a welder, and not long after he started his Army Career in the Territorial Army at Failsworth Reserve Centre (ARC).

Following in his father’s footsteps who had served with the Sappers in the Second World War, he joined the Regular Army at the age of 20 as a Sapper in the Royal Engineers.

His family has a rich history with the Armed Forces with three of his brothers also serving - Bill in the East Lancashire Regiment, Jim in the RAF and Tony in the Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm.

After basic training, Mick then volunteered for parachute training, served with ‘9 PARA’ – the famous Airborne Sapper Squadron.

He then undertook Commando training for service with 59 Independent Commando Squadron based in Plymouth, giving Mick the prestigious right to wear both the Green and Maroon Beret.

The Falklands War began on April 2, 1982, when Argentina invaded and occupied the Falkland Islands, followed by the invasion of South Georgia the next day.

On April 5, the British government dispatched a naval task force to engage the Argentine Navy and Air Force before making an amphibious assault on the islands.

With 59 Commando Royal Engineers, Mick sailed for the Falkland Islands in April 1982 and was attached to 2 PARA for the initial landings and the assault on Goose Green.

2 Para approached and attacked Darwin and Goose Green, which was held by the Argentine 12th Infantry Regiment.

2 Para’s 500 men had naval gunfire support from HMS Arrow and artillery support from 8 Commando Battery and the Royal Artillery.

After a tough struggle that lasted all night and into the next day, the British won the battle; and in all, 18 British and 47 Argentine soldiers were killed, among them Corporal Mick Melia.

Mick’s body was brought back to England at the end of that momentous year.

Following a funeral with full military honours, he was re-interred at the Weston Park cemetery in Plymouth, fittingly surrounded by three football pitches, and close to the rugged terrain of Dartmoor which he loved so much.

In honour of Cpl Melia, Failsworth Army Reserves Centre has now been renamed Melia House.

The ceremony took place on Saturday (June 3), and in attendance were members of Cpl Melia’s family, close friends and veterans some of which had the privilege of serving with him.

The ceremony paid tribute to one such person whose life serves as an enduring testament to the values we hold dear, reminding us of the deep significant of his actions in which we can all draw inspiration from the sacrifice Corporal Mick Melia and other service personnel have paid in the line of duty.

Our fallen comrade’s life exemplified the qualities that make a true Soldier and Royal Engineer, demonstrating courage in the face of adversity, displayed unwavering loyalty to his comrades.

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