Pte 24978 Thomas Albert Henry Meaker

• Age: 22
• From: Newport Monmouthshire
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• D.O.W Thursday 10th February 1916
• Commemorated at: Chipilly Cc
  Panel Ref: A.9

Thomas Albert Henry Meaker (known within his family as Bert),  was born in Newport, Monmouthshire in 1893, the eldest child of Thomas James Meaker and his wife Sarah Jane (nee Holmes). Both of his parents were natives of Newport. He was baptised in St. John the Evangelist Church, Newport, on July 11th 1893, his parents then living at 23 North Street, and his father’s occupation listed as clerk. His parents married in 1892 and had nine children, of which Thomas was the eldest.  He had a sister Christina May, also born in Newport.  

The family moved to Liverpool in about 1896/7, where seven more children were born:  John William, Philip Alexander, Ernest James, Stanley, Mabel Isabel, Edward Arthur (who died infancy), and Sydney George, born in 1912. 

In 1901 the family (listed as Meakin) is found at 1 Goldie Street, Everton (off Walton Lane).  His father, 32, is a dock labourer, his mother is 28. They have four children, Thomas is 7. 

Bert attended St. Mary’s Church of England School in Kirkdale, and left in June 1905 for the Major Lester School. 

In 1911, the family still lived in 1 Goldie Street, Liverpool, and consisted of parents and six children, with Thomas Albert then aged 17, being employed as an apprentice house decorator possibly with Messrs Griffiths & Sons, Great George Street, Liverpool.

His mother died in the  summer of 1913, aged 41, leaving his father with eight children, five of them under 12, the youngest, Sydney George was just one year old. The eldest daughter, Christina, would have been 17 years old and no doubt helped raise the younger children.  

Bert enlisted in Liverpool joining the 17th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 24978. Based on the amount of the War Gratuity, he served for just over a year, enlisting in early 1915.

He was billeted at Prescot Watch Factory, he trained there and also at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 17th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. He arrived in France on 7^th November 1915.

On 10^th February 1916, aged 22 years, he died of wounds and was buried in Chipilly Communal Cemetery in Grave A 9 where he now rests, his headstone inscription reads;

“THY WILL BE DONE”

The village of Chipilly was used by field ambulances in 1916. It was captured by the Germans in March 1918 and retaken in August, after a severe struggle, by the 58th (London) Division. CHIPILLY COMMUNAL CEMETERY contains a Commonwealth plot, begun in August 1915 and used until March 1916. A further burial was added to Row A in April 1918. The communal cemetery now contains 55 Commonwealth burials of the First World War, two of them unidentified. There are also four French war graves within the plot. CHIPILLY COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION was made by Commonwealth troops between March 1916 and February 1917, then used again for three burials in the summer of 1918. The extension contains 31 First World War burials.

An online site (GreatWarForum) states that he was struck by shell fragments which amputated one of his legs, also causing severe abdominal injuries, and died at 98 Field Ambulance soon after being admitted. The battalion War Diary for 10/2/16 records that the enemy shelled Suzanne heavily between 12.45 am and 1.30 am.

Chipilly is a small cemetery, 10 km southeast of Albert, with 53 Commonwealth graves including three other Pals:  Ptes. George Cheeseman and Edward C. Pyper, and Sgt. Thomas C. Williams, who all died in January-February 1916.

Bert earned his 3 medals.

His CWGC record states, “Son of Thomas James Meaker, of 4A, Devonport St., Toxteth, Liverpool; husband of the late Sarah Jane Meaker.”  This is apparently an error, and refers to his mother. 

His death was reported in the Liverpool Evening Express on 30th March 1916:

“Private Bert Meaker joined in March last year and went out in December.  He was at one time an "Express" boy at Walton, and was afterwards an apprentice at Griffiths and Sons, Great George Street.  Pte. Meaker died of wounds, and he was described as a splendid soldier - cheery and willing at all times.  If not actually in the firing line he was doing very capably some important duty at the rear.  For days he was under intermittent shell fire, but he carried on his work as usual.  He is much missed by the members of his platoon, with whom he was very popular. He resided previous to enlisting at 1, Goldie Street, Everton.”

His father received his Army effects, including a War Gratuity of £3-10s.  The pension card, in the name of his father at 1 Goldie Street, shows that he was awarded a pension of 3/- a week from November 1916.   

The pension card carries a notation, “Living soldier 5206 J.T(?) Meaker, 7th KLR”.  This appears to be his brother John William who enlisted in June 1915 giving his age as 19.  He was discharged three days later having lied about his age (he was only 17).  He enlisted again in the 7th Bn K.L.R., and also served in the Hereford Regiment and the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry.  He survived the war.

CWGC shows that in 1920 his father was living at 4a Devonport Street, Toxteth. 

His father appears to have lived to the age of 94 and died in 1963.

Bert is commemorated in Liverpool’s Hall of Remembrance, Panel 17

We currently have no further information on Thomas Albert Henry Meaker, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.