MEEK, Joseph
| Service Number: | 3085 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 6 July 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | 13th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | West Maitland, New South Wales, Australia, 24 August 1889 |
| Home Town: | Werris Creek, Liverpool Plains, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Bolwarra and the Superior Public School, West Maitland, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Loco Driver |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France, 17 August 1918, aged 28 years |
| Cemetery: |
Heath Cemetery, Picardie, France VI I 20 |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Bolwarra Public School Memorial Tablet, Bolwarra War Memorial, Haymarket NSW Government Railway and Tramway Honour Board, Murrurundi Bowls Club Cenotaph and Memorial Gates |
World War 1 Service
| 6 Jul 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, 3085 | |
|---|---|---|
| 6 Sep 1915: | Involvement Private, 3085, 13th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '11' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Ballarat embarkation_ship_number: A70 public_note: '' | |
| 6 Sep 1915: | Embarked Private, 3085, 13th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ballarat, Sydney | |
| 4 Feb 1917: | Wounded AIF WW1, Sergeant, 3085, 13th Infantry Battalion, He narrowly escaped death, as the bullet penetrated his neck and came out in his mouth. He was evacuated to hospital in England, where he was under treatment until April 1917. |
Help us honour Joseph Meek's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Sharyn Roberts
Son of Frank and Mary Jane MEEK, 59 Parallel Street, West Maitland, New South Wales
Distinguished Conduct Medal
'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during an attack. Before the furthest objective was reached the majority of his officers had become casualties. He was of the greatest assistance to the remaining offic ers in holding the company together and during consolidation. Owing to his coolness and energy the company were fully prepared for enemy counter attack.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 31
Date: 4 March 1919
Biography contributed by John Oakes
Joseph MEEK, (Service Number 3085), was born in West Maitland on 24th August 1889. He was educated at Bolwarra and the Superior Public School in West Maitland. He joined the NSW Government Railways as a shop boy at the Murrurundi locomotive depot in September 1906. He was promoted there to cleaner in 1909 and to fireman in October 1910. He was transferred to Taree in January 1913, a month before the North Coast line was opened to that town. Therefore, he was one of the first enginemen stationed there. A year later he was transferred back to Murrurundi as a driver, and in January 1915 transferred as driver to Werris Creek. In July 1915 he was released from duty to enlist in the AIF, doing so that month in Liverpool. (By September 1915, 28 men of the locomotive staff at Werris Creek had enlisted: Co-operator, 2/9/1915).
He was allotted to the 10th Reinforcements of the 13th Battalion. He left Australia for the war in October 1915. He was ‘taken on strength’ by his Battalion in Egypt in March 1916 and landed with them in France in June. In August he was promoted to Corporal, and in November to Sergeant. On 4th February 1917 he was wounded in action, narrowly escaping death, as the bullet penetrated his neck and came out in his mouth. He was evacuated to hospital in England, where he was under treatment until April 1917, then had two months further treatment for venereal disease, before being sent to a camp at Hurdcott. In September 1917 he was sent back to France and re-joined his unit.
He had a month’s leave in France in March-April 1918. In June 1918 he was promoted to Company Sergeant-Major, and in July was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. The citation read:
‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during an attack. Before the furthest objective was reached the majority of his officers had become casualties. He was of the greatest assistance to the remaining officers in holding the company together and during consolidation. Owing to his coolness and energy the company were fully prepared for enemy counter attack.’
On 17th August 1918 he was killed in action. The report by his commanding officer was:
‘The above named was killed instantaneously by H[igh] E[explosive] shell which burst on his dug-out, burying him, at about 11am… He was afterwards buried by Captain Chaplain Hensby, in the chalk pit where Battalion Headquarters were situated at that time. A cross was erected over his grave…’
After the war his remains were exhumed and re-buried in the Heath Cemetery, Harbonnières, approximately 13km from Villers-Bretonneux.
- based on he Australian War Memorial Honour Roll and notes for the Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board.