Page 9: Black, Melville J.

No date [1944]   A letter recently received states that Tpr. Melville Black son of Mrs. Evelyn Thomas has been transferred from England to Italy.

June 22, 1944 Tpr. M. Black Killed – Son of Islay Woman
  Mrs. Evelyn Thomas, Islay, has been advised that her son Trooper Melville J. Black, has been accidentally killed while fighting on the Italian Front.
  Tpr. Black was 20 years of age. His birth place was Glenarm and he had lived in Fenelon Twp. most of his life previous to joining the service.
  Tpr. Black was a member of a Tank Corps and had been overseas six months prior to his death while on active service.
  The deceased was a kind and cheerful young man and was ready to help anyone at any time.
  Surviving the departed soldier are his sorrowing Mother, and four brothers, Bert, Ronnie, Earl and Lavern also three sisters Luella, Jean and Buelah.
  The sympathy of the community [his life previous to joing [joining] the service] is with these sorrowing relatives.

No date [June 1944] Islay Soldier, Melville Black, Killed in Italy
  Word has been received by Mrs. Samuel Thomas, Islay, that her eldest son, Melville Black, has been killed in action in Italy. Only two weeks previous, this gallant young soldier was recommended for decoration for gallantry in service.
Twenty years of age, Melville Black enlisted in Kingston with the Ordnance Corps and went overseas lage, noted as a sculptress, doing slightly over one year ago. [sic]

No date [June 1944]   Friends at Islay, Ont., have received word that Trooper Melville J. Black has been killed in action on the Italian front. Trooper Black who was only 20 years of age, lived most of his life in the Township of Fenelon. He was a member of the Tank Corps and had been six months overseas.