MEACHAM, Herbert Alfred
| Service Number: | 6778 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 9 May 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 2nd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Rushworth Victoria, October 1893 |
| Home Town: | Temora, Temora Municipality, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Died: | Illness - Influenza & Broncho- Pneumonia, Military Hospital at Sutton Veny, Wiltshire, England, United Kingdom, 11 December 1918 |
| Cemetery: |
Sutton Veny (St. John) Churchyard, Wiltshire, England Sutton Veny (St. John) Churchyard (35, H, 10), Wiltshire, Sutton Veny (St John) Churchyard, Sutton Veny, Wiltshire, England, United Kingdom |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Pucawan & Quandary HB1, Temora Public School Honour Roll, Temora WW1 War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 9 May 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 6778, 2nd Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 8 Nov 1916: | Involvement Private, 6778, 2nd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '7' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: SS Port Nicholson embarkation_ship_number: '' public_note: '' | |
| 8 Nov 1916: | Embarked Private, 6778, 2nd Infantry Battalion, SS Port Nicholson, Sydney | |
| 20 Sep 1917: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 6778, 2nd Infantry Battalion, Menin Road, SW left elbow |
Help us honour Herbert Alfred Meacham's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Evan Evans
The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland
Died on this date – 11th December…… Private Herbert Alfred Meacham was born at Rushworth, Victoria in 1892. He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 9th May, 1916 as a 23 year old, single, Farmer from Trigalong, Temora, NSW.
Private Herbert Alfred Meacham was promoted to Acting Corporal on 6th October, 1916 with the 2nd Infantry Battalion, 22nd Reinforcements. Herbert & his brother Albert Edward Meacham, 6876, 2nd Battalion, both embarked from Sydney on SS Port Nicholson on 8th November, 1916 & disembarked at Devonport, England on 10th January, 1917.
On 10th January, 1917 Acting Corporal Meacham was posted to 1st Training Battalion at Larkhill, Durrington, Wiltshire & reverted to the rank of Private. He proceeded overseas to France on 28th March, 1917 & joined 2nd Battalion on 20th April, 1917.
Private Herbert Alfred Meacham was wounded in action in France on 20th September, 1917. He was sent to 6th Australian Field Ambulance with shrapnel wounds to left arm then transferred to 10th Casualty Clearing Station. Private Meacham was transferred to 57th General Hospital at Boulogne on 21st September, 1917 then transferred to No. 7 Convalescent Depot on 24th September, 1917. Private Meacham was transferred again to No. 10 Convalescent Depot at Ecault on 4th October, 1917 then transferred on 27th November, 1917 to Base Depot. He was marched in to 1st Australian Divisional Base Depot at Havre on 29th November, 1917.
The Army had advised Private Meacham’s mother on 8th December, 1917 that her son was admitted to Hospital with Trench Fever. This was corrected in a letter on 20th March, 1918 advising that the report of Trench Fever did not refer to her son but to another soldier with the same name belonging to the same battalion.
Private Beacham rejoined his Battalion on 9th December, 1917. He was on Leave to Paris on 4th February, 1918 & rejoined his Battalion from leave on 13th February, 1918. Private Meacham was on Furlough to UK from 26th February, 1918 & rejoined his Battalion from furlough on 14th March, 1918.
On 31st August, 1918 Private Meacham was reported “Classified Injured (accidentally)”. A report was made on his injury – sprained ankle (R) moderately severe. The injury occurred during Recreational Training (Football). The injury was accidental & in the performance of military duty. No other person was to blame. A statement of Evidence was made by Sergt H. Austin Jones, 179, A Coy. 2nd Aus. Bn who stated that at 2 pm. on 31st August, 1918 he was present at Recreational Training in Morcourt area when Private Meacham sprained his ankle while playing football. Private Meacham was sent to No. 5 Casualty Clearing Station on 6th September, 1918 with a sprained right ankle, then transferred on 8th September, 1918 to No. 6 General Hospital at Rouen, France.
He was invalided to England on 9th September, 1918 on Hospital Ship Grantully Castle & was admitted to War Hospital at Exeter with a sprained right ankle on 10th September, 1918.
Private Meacham was on furlo from 15th to 29th October, 1918. He was marched in to No. 1 Command Depot at Sutton Veny, Wiltshire on 31st October, 1918 & medically classed as B1 A2 (fit for overseas training camp in three to four weeks).
On 14th November, 1918 Private Meacham was marched out to APM (Military Police) Warminster for Escort Duty.
He was admitted to the Military Hospital at Sutton Veny, Wiltshire on 28th November, 1918 & was reported dangerously and seriously ill with Pneumonia on 6th December, 1918.
Private Herbert Alfred Meacham died at 3.20 hrs on 11th December, 1918 at the Military Hospital, Sutton Veny of Influenza & Broncho- Pneumonia.
He was buried in St. John the Evangelist Churchyard, Sutton Veny, Wiltshire, England where 142 other WW1 Australia War Graves (includes 2 Australian Nurses) are located.
** Older Brother – Temporary Lance Corporal Albert Edward Meacham, 6876, 2nd Battalion. Mentioned in Despatches – Australian Commonwealth Gazette 30th October, 1919. Survived the War & was entitled to British War Medal & Victory Medal. Returned to Australia 5 April, 1919.
(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/k--m.html
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