Melbourne Johns facts for kids
Melbourne Johns (born March 9, 1901 – died August 7, 1955) was a brave factory worker from Wales. He became famous during World War II for a very important mission in France. His job was to get special machines out of a factory before the German army could capture them. This happened just before France was invaded by Germany.
A Hero from Wales
Melbourne Johns was born in 1901 near a village called Hundleton in Wales. He went to school at Fishguard County School (now called Ysgol Bro Gwaun). When he grew up, he moved to England to work in factories that made supplies for the military, often in a town called Grantham. He married Catherine Williams in 1930.
Soon after World War II began, Melbourne was working at a factory called BMARC in Grantham. He volunteered for a very risky mission. He wanted to go with a team to France to save some super important machines called Deep Hole Boring Machines. These machines were at the Hispano-Suiza factory. His bosses didn't want him to go because it was too dangerous, but Melbourne insisted. The goal was to get the machines before the invading German army could take them.
Melbourne and the soldiers found the factory empty. They quickly loaded the special equipment onto a truck and drove it away. They managed to bring these vital machines safely back to England.
These Deep Hole Boring Machines were super important! They were used to drill the inside of the barrels for the Hispano-Suiza HS.404 20mm cannons. These powerful cannons were used on famous British fighter planes like the Spitfire and the Hawker Hurricane.
His Story on Film
Melbourne Johns' amazing adventure was made into a movie during the war. It was called The Foreman Went to France (and Somewhere in France in the United States). The film starred actors like Tommy Trinder, Robert Morley, Gordon Jackson, and Constance Cummings. A Welsh actor named Clifford Evans played the role of Melbourne Johns in the movie.
