William Meldrum
Born 28 Jul 1865 - Died 13 Feb 1964
- Service number
- WWI 11/675 AWMM
- Also known as
- Bill AWMM
- Fix Bayonets AWMM
- Corncob AWMM
- Armed force / branch
- Army AWMM
- Last rank
- Inter War Lieutenant Colonel (Temporary Brigadier General)/Military AWMM Headquarters, New Zealand Mounted Rifle Brigade AWMM
- WW2 Unknown AWMM Home Guard AWMM
- War
About
- Title
- —
- Forenames
- William AWMM
- Surname
- Meldrum AWMM
- Ingoa
- —
- Also known as
- Bill AWMM
- Fix Bayonets AWMM
- Corncob AWMM
- Service number
- WWI 11/675 AWMM
- Gender
- Male AWMM
- Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe
- —
- Religion
- Presbyterian, Christian AWMM
Images
Documents
About birth
- Birth
- 28 Jul 1865 AWMM
- Date of birth
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- Place of birth
- —
- Birth notes
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- Address before enlistment
- WW1 Pre 14 Aug 1914 AWMM Hunterville, New Zealand AWMM
- Post war occupation
- Farmer (Hunterville)/Civilian AWMM
- Magistrate/Civilian AWMM
Magistrate (Greymouth) - 1921-34 AWMM - Mayor/Civilian AWMM
Mayor of Greymouth - 1935-38 AWMM
- Next of kin
- WW1 Mrs N.E. Meldrum (wife), care of G.P.O, Wellington, New Zealand AWMM
- Relationship status
- Pre 16 Oct 1914 AWMM Married/WWI AWMM
Wars and conflicts
- War
- Campaign
- 1915-1916 AWMM Gallipoli AWMM
- 1914-1916 AWMM Egypt AWMM
- Sinai & Palestine AWMM
- Sinai & Palestine AWMM
- Armed force / branch
- Army AWMM
- Service number
- WWI 11/675 AWMM
- Military service
- Volunteer, 6th Manawatu Mounted Rifles, 1900-1914 AWMM
- New Zealand Mounted Rifle Brigade AWMM
- Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers
- —
Military decorations
- Medals and Awards
- Companion of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (CB) AWMM
CB citation: "In recognition of valuable services rendered in connection with miiltary operations in Egypt and Palestine." (London Gazette, 12 December 1919, p15440) AWMM - Companion of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) AWMM
CMG citation: "The Wellington MR Regiment under command of Lt-Col Meldrum was sent up to reinforce our position on Chunuk Bair on the night 8/9 Aug and at 9pm this officer took over command from Col Moore who was wounded and remained in command until his regiment was relieved at 11pm on the 9/10th. During the whole of this time our position was being continuously attacked, and the situation was at times extremely critical. It is undoubtedly due to the determined & resolute attitude of this officer which gave confidence to his men and to his skilful dispositions that the position was maintained during this time." (London Gazette, 14 January 1916, p568, WA 22/5/10) AWMM - Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) AWMM
DSO citation: "For distinguished service in the field (Sinai and Palestine)" (London Gazette, 3 June 1919) AWMM - 1914-1915 Star AWMM
- British War Medal (1914-1920) AWMM
- Victory Medal with oak leaf AWMM
- War Medal 1939-1945 AWMM
- New Zealand War Service Medal AWMM
- Volunteer Officer's Decoration (VD) AWMM
- Colonial Auxiliary Forces Decoration AWMM
- New Zealand Long and Efficient Service Medal AWMM
- New Zealand Territorial Service Medal AWMM
- Order of the White Eagle, 4th Class with Swords (Serbia) AWMM
- Mentioned In Despatches (MiD) Six Times AWMM
London Gazette 28 January 1916, p1210 | London Gazette 13 July 1916, p6943 | London Gazette 1 December 1916, p11808 | London Gazette 6 July 1917, p6774 | London Gazette 12 January 1918, p804 | London Gazette 12 January 1920, p508 : In connection with the operations described in General I. Hamilton’s despatch AWMM
- Companion of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (CB) AWMM
Training and Enlistment
- Military training
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- Branch Trade Proficiency
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- Enlistment
- WW1 14 Aug 1914 AWMM
Age 49 AWMM
Farmer/Civilian AWMM - Solicitor and Barrister/Civilian AWMM
- WW1 14 Aug 1914 AWMM
- Age on enlistment
- —
- Occupation before enlistment
- —
Embarkations
- Embarkation details
- WW1 16 Oct 1914 AWMM
HMNZT 6 or HMNZT 10 AWMM Vessel was Arawa AWMM Lieutenant Colonel/Military AWMM Wellington Mounted Rifles AWMM Main Body AWMM
Prisoner of war
- Capture details
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- Days interned
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- Liberation date
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- POW liberation details
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- Liberation Repatriation
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- POW serial number
- —
Medical history
- Medical notes
- Height, Unknown Period AWMM
6 feet AWMM - Weight, Unknown Period AWMM
12 stone AWMM - Hospital Diseases , Wounds, WWI AWMM
Malaria - Kantara Field Hospital, then Nasirch General Hospital, Cairo - 2.9 -1.10.17 AWMM - Hospital Diseases , Wounds, WWI AWMM
Malaria - 3rd General Hospital & Bir Darieh Hospital - 16.5.18 - 28.6.18 AWMM - Died of Disease, Cause of Death AWMM
Stroke AWMM
- Height, Unknown Period AWMM
Last known rank
- Last rank
- Inter War 7 Sept 1919 AWMM
Struck of strength and absorbed into Reserve of Officers (Temporary) AWMM
Lieutenant Colonel (Temporary Brigadier General)/Military AWMM
Headquarters, New Zealand Mounted Rifle Brigade AWMM - WW2 Unknown AWMM
Home Guard AWMM
- Inter War 7 Sept 1919 AWMM
- Last rank
- —
Biographical information
- Married twice. Husband of Nora Elizabeth Meldrum (nee Carthew). Father of Alexander Francis Medrum, b. 1895 and another child. Husband of Clare Beatrice Meldrum (nee Dodson), father of 3 more children.
Took part in all engagements of the Wellington Mounted Rifles.
Noted as the second oldest man at Gallipoli, after Colonel Charles Mackesy.
Commanded Wellington Mounted Rifles Regiment 1914-17; New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade 1917-19 and commanded 2nd Australian Light Horse Brigade at Battle of Romani, 1916.
Served in the Home Guard in WWII.
Was known to be lenient to Returned Servicemen appearing before him in court during his service as a magistrate.
Attended Auckland University College (now the University of Auckland). AWMM
About death
- Death
- 13 Feb 1964 AWMM
Age 98 AWMM - Date of death
- —
- Age at death
- —
- Place of death
- —
- Cause of death
- Died of Disease AWMM
- Death notes
- —
- Cemetery
- Karoro Cemetery, Chesterfield Street, Greymouth, Westland, New Zealand AWMM
- Cemetery name
- —
- Grave reference
- —
- Obituary
- Death notice: Christchurch Press, 14 & 15 February 1964
Death notice: New Zealand Herald, 14 & 15 February 1964 AWMM - Memorial name
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- Memorial reference
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Memorial
- Memorial name
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Related objects
Sources
- External links
- Military personnel file
https://collections.archives.govt.nz/web/arena/search/#/entity/aims-archive/R21374515
Further Reference - Powles, C.G. (1922). The New Zealanders in Sinai and Palestine. Auckland, N.Z.: Whitcombe and Tombs. Digitised copy on NZETC site.
http://www.nzetc.org/tm/scholarly/tei-WH1-Sina.html
Sources Used - Auckland University College Roll of Honour.
http://www.specialcollections.auckland.ac.nz/ww1-centenary/roll-of-honour/search?page=925
Further Reference - Wikidata Entity
http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q8015542
Further Reference
- Military personnel file
- References
- McDonald, W. (2001). Honours and awards to the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in the Great War, 1914-1918. Napier, N.Z.: Helen McDonald.
- New Zealand Army Expeditionary Force. (1914-1919). Nominal Rolls of New Zealand Expeditionary Force, Volume I. Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer.
Vol1: 498 - A.U.C. roll of honour, 1914 - 1920. MSS & Archives E-2, Special Collections, University of Auckland Libraries and Learning Services.
- Williams, E. G. (1914-1918). [Williams Album 3]. Auckland War Memorial Museum - Tamaki Paenga Hira. PH-ALB-212.
- Williams, E. G. (1914-1918). [Williams Album 2]. Auckland War Memorial Museum - Tamaki Paenga Hira. PH-ALB-211.
- Beattie, P.J. & Pomeroy, M. (2013-2020). Onward : portraits of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force (vols 1-5). Auckland, New Zealand: Fair Dinkum Publications
Vol. 3: Includes portrait - Sylvester, G. (2013). William Meldrum : barrister, soldier, magistrate, mayor, freemason, New Zealander : a man of mystery revealed. Greymouth: N. Z.: The author.
- Information kindly provided by family
- McDonald, W. (2013). Honours and Awards to the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in the Great War, 1914-1918. (3rd ed.). Hamilton, N.Z.: Richard Stowers.
- Waite, F. (1919). The New Zealanders at Gallipoli. Auckland, N.Z.: Printed and published under Authority of the New Zealand Government by Whitcombe & Tombs.
- Austin, W. (1924). The official history of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade (The Earl of Liverpool's Own). Wellington, N.Z.: L T Watkins.
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