Pte 21963 Frederick Meek

• Age: 21
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Monday 29th April 1918
• Commemorated at: Tyne Cot Memorial
  Panel Ref: Panel 31-34

Frederick Meek was born 12th December 1896 in Liverpool and was baptised 29th December 1896 at St Paul's Church, Toxteth. He was the son of Jonathan and Jane (nee Johnston) Meek who married 1893 at St. John The Baptist, Toxteth.

Frederick was educated at Holy trinity Church of England School, Ashwell Street, Liverpool.

The 1901 Census shows the family living at 53, Star Street, Toxteth Park, Liverpool.

The father Jonathan aged 34, born 1867 is a dock labourer and was born in Liverpool. His wife Jane is aged 28, born 1873 in Liverpool and has no occupation listed. They have threee children at the time of the Census, Thomas aged 6, born 1895, Frederick aged 4, born 1897 and Jonathan aged 2, born 1899 and all were born in Liverpool.

His mother died June 1905 aged 32. His father Jonathan was to remarry widow Maud Slater on the 1st July 1906 at Our Lady & St. Nicholas & St. Anne, Liverpool.

The 1911 Census shows Frederick aged 14 attending Everton Industrial School for Boys, 1 Everton Terrace.

His family are living at 24 Court, House 8, Hampton St, Liverpool. Father Jonathan aged 46 is a dock labourer, his wife Maud is aged 30 (married 5 years 3 children 2 still alive). Children Frank Slater 7, Annie Slater 5, Emma(died aged 1), Alice 3, and Catherine 6mths. (brother Thomas was a patient in hospital).

He enlisted with 4th KLCB on the 10th November 1914 at Liverpool and gave his age as 19 years and 354 days, and occupation as a clerk. he was five feet eight inches tall, weighed 130lbs, fresh complexion, grey eyes, light brown hair and gave his religion as Church of England. His NOK was his step-mother Maud Alice Meek, 24 Court, House 8, Hampton St, Liverpool.

24-29.12.14 - Absence, forfeited 5 days pay, 5 days C.B.

4-5.4.15 - Absence, 2 days C.B.

7.11.15: He embarked for France with his battalion. 

7.12.15 - Transferred from from 1st Battn(?).

3.4.16 - Attached to 89th Base HQ

25.6.17 - Transferred to Divn. Emp. Coy

10.8.17 - Rejoined Battn.

28.8-7.9.17 - Granted leave to UK

7.3.18 - Posted to 18/KLR

23.3.18 - Debility, to 53 CCS

24.3.18 Military Events Sickness and wounds: Admitted to hospital Debility was a term used for different states of shell-shock, neurasthenia, nervous exhaustion etc Number 3 General Hospital Le Treport Debility (Mild).
2.4.18 - At Etaples

9.4.18 - Rejoined Battn.

23.4.18 - Deficient of 50 rounds of S.A.A., 3 days C.B.

He was serving in the 18^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 21963.

He was killed in action on the 29^th April 1918 aged 21 during the German Spring Offensive.

On the day of his death 29th April 1918, the Battalion was serving on the Ypres Salient and was in the front line at Elzenwalle, near Ridge Wood, awaiting a renewal of the German assault on that front.

At 02.30 am the attack began with a devastating bombardment along the whole battle front, from the forward positions back to a depth of over a mile. At 6am the enemy Infantry attacked, the main force of the assault being directed at a position near Ridge Wood, where one of the Battalion’s forward listening posts was captured and held. Then, 16999 Company Sergeant Major G Sutton of No.1 Company gallantly drove out the attackers with Mills Bombs, an action for which he was later awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. After a strong defence along the Battalion frontage, the Germans withdrew. They continued their artillery barrage throughout the rest of the morning and afternoon, however, and at about 17.00 began to mass once more for another Infantry attack. This was contained by Rifle and Lewis Gun fire, until a large British Artillery barrage at 18.00 finally broke up all enemy activity.

Frederick has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial in Belgium.

Those United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after August 16th 1917 are named on the Tyne Cot Memorial, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war.

The Tyne Cot Memorial now bears the names of almost 35,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Herbert Baker with sculpture by Joseph Armitage and F.V. Blundstone, was unveiled by Sir Gilbert Dyett on 20 June 1927.

The memorial forms the north-eastern boundary of Tyne Cot Cemetery, which was established around a captured German blockhouse or pill-box used as an advanced dressing station.

He is also commemorated on the War Memorial at Holy Trinity, Toxteth, Liverpool.

Soldiers Effects to his father Jonathan and pension to Maud.

His parents appear on the 1939 Register still at 23 Lockhart St. Jonathan, dob 31st Dec 1865, Maud, dob 22nd Aug 1880, and Ellen Lea(Meek), dob 21st Aug 1920.

His father died in September 1942 aged 76 and his step-mother Maud,  died in December 1971 aged 91.

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