MEEKINGS, John


No.41627, Private, John MEEKINGS
Aged 40


2nd Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment
formerly No.50444, Suffolk Regiment
Died of his Wounds on Friday, 3rd January 1919


John Meekings was born in Poslingford ( Risbridge Q1-1881 4A:542) son of Charles and Ursula MEEKINGS (née PASKE). His mother recorded variously as Husley or Harley. His father was first married to Hannah AGER in 1845 and they had 3 children, Caroline 1851-1870, James [1856-1936] and Charlotte [1859-1864]. Hannah died early in 1868 and Charles married Ursula Paske on 8th December 1868. The family names is recorded in many way, Meakings, Meekings, Meaking or Meekin amongst them.

1881 census...Aged 3 months, he was at Wentford, Poslingford with his father Charles MEEKINGS [51] labourer; his mother (Husley) [35]; brothers Eli [10], William [9], George [8] and Samuel [7] all born in Stoke by Clare; sister Mary Ann [4] and brother Ernest [2] born in Poslingford

1891 census...Aged 10, he was at Wentford, Poslingford with his parents (mother now Harley); brothers Eli, William [18], George [17], Samuel [16] and Ernest, all farm labourers and Arthur [5] born Poslingford; sisters Mary Ann and Caroline [7] born in Poslingford;

1901 census...Aged 20, a farm labourer, he was at Snow Hill, Clare with is parents (motherr now Husley); brothers Eli, George and Arthur;sister Carrie.

In Q4-1905 he married Rose LEVELL. His father died in 1904 and his mother died in 1907

1911 census...Aged 30, farm labourer, he was at Chapel House, Clare with his wife Rose [32] born Clare; son Charles [4]; daughters Lily [3] and Mary [1]. The children all born in Clare. Also there were his brothers Eli and George.

The pension card puts his widow at Chilton Road, Clare, deleted and replaced with 9 Mill Road, Clare. Unusually, there are no details of the children.

He was the brother in law of Alfred LEVELL see here






Dying after the war he is not in "Soldiers Died" and his service record has not been found, so we do not know where he enlisted or where and when he was wounded. It does seem strange that he is recorded on his medal card as dying of wounds that long after the end of the war. It was usual to evacuate most wounded men back to UK as soon as it was safe for them to travel.



John Meekings is buried in Etaples Military Cemetery, grave LXXII:A:12

click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details


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