William Henry MEACHEAM

Regimental number10/11
Date of birth10 December 1880
Place of birthPalmerston North
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationFarmer
AddressMaharahara
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation34.5
Height5' 9"
Weight135 lbs
Next of kinBrother, Ernest A Meacheam, Maharahara West, Hawke's Bay
Previous military serviceServed for 2 years in the Woodville Rifles; not serving in any military unit at time of NZEF enlistment.
Enlistment date21 August 1914
Rank on embarkationPrivate
Enlistment statusVolunteer
Unit nameNew Zealand Expeditionary Force, Main Body, Wellington Infantry Battalion
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Wellington on board HMNZT 10 Arawa on 16 October 1914
Final rankPrivate
Final unit1st Battalion, Wellington Infantry Regiment
FateCommenced return to New Zealand 4 May 1917
Discharge date16 November 1917
Family/military connectionsBrothers: 79367 Rifleman Ernest Albert MEACHEAM, New Zealand Rifle Brigade, returned to New Zealand, 3 July 1919; 10/449 Pte Walter John MEACHEAM, Wellington Infantry Bn, returned to New Zealand, 5 May 1915.
Other details

War service: Egypt, Gallipoli, Western Front

Embarked Alexandria to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force (Gallipoli Campaign), 12 April 1915.

Wounded in action (gun shot wound, right arm), and admitted to NZ Field Ambulance, 7 May 1916; discharged to duty, 13 May 1915.

Wounded in action (second occasion), 8 August 1915 (gun shot wound, lower extremities); transferred to Egypt, and disembarked Alexandria, 13 August 1915; admitted to 15th General Hospital, 14 August 1915; transferred to England, 3 September 1915, and admitted to 2nd Western General Hospital, Manchester, 13 September 1915; discharged to NZ Base Depot, Grey Towers, 11 January 1916.

Rejoined Bn, in the field, France, 8 June 1916.

Wounded in action (third occasion), date not recorded (shrapnel wound, right arm); transferred to England, 2 July 1916, and admitted to 2nd London General Hospital, Chelsea; transferred to NZ General Hospital, Brockenhurst, 13 July 1916; to NZ Convalescent Depot, Codford, 16 August 1916.

Classified 'Unfit' by Medical Board, 17 January 1917, and placed on NZ Roll.

Commenced return to New Zealand from Plymouth on board RMS 'Arawa', 4 May 1917 1917 ; discharged (no longer physically fit for War Service on account of wounds received in action), 16 November 1917.

War service: 3 years 88 days (of which 2 years 244 days were abroad)

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
Miscellaneous detailsNominal Roll Vol. 1: Wellington Infantry Batln/Main Body
Date of death11 August 1962 Dannevirke
SourcesArchives New Zealand (Wellington), Agency AABK, Series 18805, File 21374267