Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

MEIKLE Alexander Jamieson VD MD LRCPS Ed LRCP Ed

1869-1954

Alexander Jamieson Meikle was born on the 20th April 1869 in Inverary, Argyllshire, son of Rev Gilbert Meikle, a minister of the United Presbyterian Church. He was educated at George Watson’s College, and studied medicine at Edinburgh University. He graduated MBChM in 1892 and MD in 1894. He came to Australia soon after his graduation and registered as a medical practitioner in South Australia in December 1894. He was living in Yankalilla by July 1895 when he was appointed as public vaccinator.  He spent 12 years at Yankalilla, and then a further six years at Port Lincoln, where he was the medical officer of the Government Hospital. He was commissioned in the AAMC reserve in August 1900 as a captain, and served until 1903 and served again in the AAMC from 1906-10. He married Ellen Amelia from Port Lincoln and they had three children.

Meikle volunteered for the AIF on the 28th October 1914 at the age of 44 years and his wife was named as his next of kin. He was 5ft 8ins tall, and weighed 10st 7lbs.  He was promoted to major in February 1915 and replaced Major James Stewart, who had been left behind at Colombo with suspected typhoid. He took temporary command of 4 FdAmb with the Medical Unit at Anzac Cove, Gallipoli. A letter home on the 7th July 1915 records:  “The first few days ashore were perfect Hell. The Turks did give us a hot reception, what with a constant downpour of shrapnel & snipers at work everywhere; you never knew when you'd be hit. We know we're going to win alright. So far as the Turks are concerned, we've got the upper hand. The Turks are darn good soldiers and play the game… On the whole, we have nothing much to complain of, one doesn't expect too much comfort or any luxury in the firing line.”   He was promoted lieutenant colonel and his command of 4 FdAmb was confirmed in January 1916. He took the unit to France in June 1916 with 4th Div joined the attacks on Pozières Heights and Mouquet Farm in the first week of August 1916. Meikle was Mentioned in Despatches for his service between June and October 1916. He went on leave in Scotland after Pozières, and in September was admitted to hospital with bronchitis and emphysema. Meikle did not return to France. He remained in England until January 1917 and then returned to Australia. His appointment was terminated on the 21st August 1917 as “medically unfit for further Service” with his address at 27 Marlborough Street, College Park, South Australia. The same year he received the Volunteer Decoration.  After he was invalided home he was on continuous home service, commanding 15th AGH, first at North Adelaide and then Torrens Park. He remained at the Mitcham Hospital until it was disbanded. He was issued with the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal with Oak Leaves.

Meikle was appointed Deputy Superintendent of the ‘Mental Hospital’ in 1919 as he had considerable experience in connection with shell shock and mental cases. Alexander Jamieson Meikle died at 23 Bakewell Street, Tusmore, SA on 23rd March 1954. His wife, Ellen, died one month later on 21st April 1954. They were survived by two of their children Kathleen and George; their son Colin predeceased them.

Source

Blood, Sweat and Fears: Medical Practitioners and Medical Students of South Australia, who Served in World War 1. 

Verco, Summers, Swain, Jelly. Open Books Howden, Adelaide 2014. 

Uploaded by Annette Summers AO RFD

Medals: 1914/15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal

Daily Herald (Adelaide, SA: 1910 - 1924) Friday 25 August 1911

PERSONAL.

Dr. A. J. Meikle has been, appointed an honorary medical officer at the Port Lincoln Hospital.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article105331300

The Register (Adelaide, SA: 1901 - 1929) Monday 30 November 1914

Farewell to a Doctor. 

Dr. A. J. Meikle, of Port Lincoln, holds a commission as captain in the South Australian Field Ambulance, and will proceed   to the front with the 2nd Expeditionary Force. He has resided at the popular holiday resort on the west coast for six years, and was previously at Yankalilla for 12 years. Before coming to this State he obtained a lieutenancy in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, which commission he still holds. Mrs. Meikle and family will continue to reside at Port Lincoln, where she and her husband are held in the highest esteem by the residents generally. Last week the doctor was entertained at farewell socials at several towns on the west coast. He was presented with a purse of sovereigns by the residents of Port Lincoln. His departure for Adelaide by the steamer Rupara on Saturday was the occasion for a pleasing demonstration by the people on his behalf. A large crowd   attended at the jetty, and as the vessel   left they sang appropriate songs and indulged in expressions of goodwill and god speed.   

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article59936087

The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA: 1889 - 1931) Friday 17 October 1919

At a meeting of the Executive Council on Thursday, Dr. A. J. Meikle, L.R.C.P., L.R.C.S., M.B., C.M., and M.D., was appointed Deputy Superintendent of the Mental Hospital, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Dr. Lind. Dr. Meikle had been in practice in South Australia 18 years before going to the war. He was   for 12 years at Yankalilla, and then for six years at Port Lincoln, where he was the medical officer of the Government Hospital. For three years he was on military duty at the front, in command of the 4th Field Ambulance, and after he was invalided home he was on continuous home service, commanding No. 15 Australian   General Hospital first at North Adelaide, and then at Torrens Park. He remained at the Mitcham Hospital until it was disbanded. He has had considerable experience there in connection with shell shock and mental cases. Altogether he has had 18 months' practice principally connected with mental diseases. Dr. Meikle is 50 years of age, and is a married man with a family.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5635965

Port Lincoln Times (SA: 1927 - 1954) Friday 15 September 1933

Port Lincoln Medical Man's Success

SUPERINTENDENT AT PARKSIDE MENTAL HOSPITAL

The appointment of Dr. A. J. Meikle (who, before the war, was medical officer at the Port Lincoln Hospital) as superintendent of the Parkside Mental Hospital and of the Criminal Mental Hospital has been confirmed in Executive Council. He had been acting in that capacity since the death last April of Dr. M. H. Downey.

Dr. Meikle is a returned soldier. In 1919 he was appointed deputy superintendent at the Parkside Mental Hospital.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article96627403