3742 PTE Peter Meeking – WW1 (AIF)

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PETER was born at Newcastle, NSW in 1877 to parents Thomas and Bridget Meeking.

In February 1917 he was working as a hair dresser in Newcastle and volunteered for service in the AIF at Victoria Barracks, Sydney NSW, but was rejected as unfit due to physique below standard.

He tried again and was successfully enlisted in the AIF on 26 June 1917 in Newcastle.

He married Amy Charlotte Matthews in 1904, but on enlistment he stated he was single and it appears that they were estranged by this time and had no children.

On enlistment he was allocated to the 10th Reinforcements 53rd Battalion and was allocated to the 1st Depot Battalion at Liverpool for recruit training.

He embarked from Sydney on 2 August 1917 and disembarked in Glasgow (Scotland) on 2 October, being transferred to the 14th Training Battalion for infantry training.

In November he contracted influenza and was hospitalised for a week.

On 12 February 1918, he arrived at Roulles (France) as a reinforcement for the 35th Battalion (Newcastle’s Own). At this time the 35th Battalion was resting in reserve but at the end of February moved to the forward trenches as part of the 9th Brigade.

The Battalion was in support of the front line at Hill 63 (Catacombs) near Messines (Belgium).

The German offensive began in March 1918, breaking the British forces in the Somme Valley and aiming for Amiens (France).

The Australian forces were rapidly redeployed to Dernancourt and then Villers-Bretonneux (France) to stop the Germans as the British lines broke.

The 35th Battalion was deployed to and held the centre of line at Villers-Bretonneux and was involved in heavy fighting with high casualties (300 KIA/missing) during late March and early April before being withdrawn to rest. Peter was lucky to escape unwounded but he became sick again.

On 26 April he was admitted to the 2nd General Hospital (Le Havre, France) with influenza.

His condition did not improve and he was evacuated to England where he remained in various hospitals and convalescent depots until being released back to duty at the Overseas Training Brigade, Hurdcott (Wiltshire, England).

On 6 October he was back in France and rejoined the 35th Battalion on 10 October, being allocated to Headquarter Company.

At this time the 35th Battalion along with the rest of the 9th Brigade were out of the front line in reserve and had moved to Merelessart Chateau (France).

The armistice was signed on 11 November and the Battalion moved to Feuquieres (France) where it remained until disbanded in April 1919.

Peter was again admitted sick to 3rd Australian General Hospital in April and was evacuated to England and admitted to the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital where he remained until released in May to the 3rd Depot Group awaiting repatriation to Australia.

On 3 July, Peter embarked from England to Sydney disembarking on 26 August.

He was discharged from the AIF on 26 September.

Due to his war injuries Peter was to become a totally and permanently incapacitated (TPI) pensioner.

Peter returned from the war and eventually went to live in the Stroud-Gloucester area.

He opened a barber shop at Wards River and practised there for some years.

By 1936 he was recorded as working as labourer and living at Stroud Road NSW, where he ceased working and retired as a TPE pensioner.

He suffered poor health as a result of his war service and was admitted to Dungog Hospital where he died on 31 May 1944 aged 67 years.

He was buried in the Dungog General Cemetery (Methodist/Uniting Section).

As a returned soldier from WW1 his headstone was erected by the Office of Australian War Graves and is of white marble.

Peter was issued the following medals: British War Medal 1914-20; Victory Medal.

I have not found a memorial recognising his service in WW1.

By Martin HOLMES CSM