Larkhall War Memorial - MEIKLE, Andrew, M.M.

Andrew MEIKLE, M.M.

Lance Sergeant S/3145

9th Battalion, Gordon Highlanders

ANDREW MEIKLE, M.M., Lance Sergeant S/3145, 9th Battalion, Gordon Highlanders

Paternal grandparents' gravestone in Larkhall Cemetery.

Close-up of inscription.

ANDREW MEIKLE, M.M., Lance Sergeant S/3145, 9th Battalion, Gordon Highlanders, is NOT named on the Larkhall War Memorial.

ANDREW is not commemorated at The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) or The Scottish National War Memorial (SNWM) in Edinburgh Castle.

I submitted a request to the CWGC to ask that they commemorate this soldier.

[UPDATE: 14 Oct 2022

The CWGC have notified me that... The case was rejected by the Adjudication Board based upon the presented evidence, which determined that the cause of death could not be connected to military service. It was clear that Lance Serjeant Meikle was discharged from the Army due to wounds received, but the location of the gunshot wound injury could not be directly attributed to him contracting pneumonia three years afterwards.]

ANDREW is named on a family gravestone in Larkhall Cemetery. The gravestone was erected by Mary Wilson or Meikle, in memory of her husband Andrew Meikle (the paternal grandparents of ANDREW).

His father, Robert Meikle was born in Larkhall - hence the Larkhall connection.

The family gravestone names ANDREW as their grandson, son of Robert & Jeanie Meikle, who 'Died of his Wounds' on 1st April, 1920, age 23.

The family gravestone also names his cousin JAMES BRYAN as their grandson who was 'Killed in Action' on 25th April, 1917, in France, age 25.

ANDREW was born on 13th May, 1896, at 7 Spittal Rows, Newton, Cambuslang.

His parents were Robert Meikle, a Colliery Clerk, and Jeanie Young Dick, who were married at Auchinraith, Blantyre, on 1st January, 1896.
His paternal grandparents were Andrew Meikle, a Journeyman Joiner, and Mary Wilson.
His maternal grandparents were George Dick, a Pit Labourer, and Janet Russell.

The 1901 MOTHERWELL Census was taken on 31st March, 1901.
The family are listed at Roman Road Houses at No 3 Pit, Dalziel, as follows:
Robert Meikle, age 29, Head, Colliery Clerk, b Larkhall.
Jeannie Meikle, age 27, Wife, b Shotts.
ANDREW MEIKLE, age 4, Son, b Cambuslang.
George Meikle, age 2, Son, b Dalziel.
John Meikle, age 10 months, Son, b Dalziel.

The 1911 MOTHERWELL Census was taken on 2nd April, 1911.
The family are listed at Roman Road Cottage, Dalziel, as follows:
Robert Meikle, age 39, Head, Colliery Clerk, b Dalserf.
Jeannie Meikle, age 37, Wife, b Shotts.
ANDREW MEIKLE, age 14, Son, Pony Driver (Underground), b Cambuslang.
George Meikle, age 12, Scholar, Son, b Dalziel.
John Meikle, age 10, Scholar, Son, b Dalziel.
Russell Meikle, age 8, Scholar, Son, b Dalziel.
Janet Meikle, age 4, Daughter, b Dalziel.

ANDREW joined the Gordon Highlanders, and went to France on 9th July, 1915.

ANDREW was awarded The Military Medal for Bravery in the Field.
He is named in The London Gazette, No 27949, pages 8997 and 9003, dated 12th September, 1916.
He is named in The Edinburgh Gazette, No 12986, pages 1651 and 1657, dated 15th September, 1916.

ANDREW was discharged from the Army on 17th May, 1917. He was no longer fit for military service, and was awarded Silver War Badge No 188,367.

ANDREW died on 1st April, 1920, age 23, at Glenlee Lodge, Hamilton.
(In the 1920s Glenlee House was used as a tuberculosis hospital.)
The cause of death is shown as Pneumonia (Double).

The Medal Rolls Index Card (MIC) for ANDREW MEIKLE, M.M., shows that he was awarded The 1914-15 Star Medal, The Victory Medal, The British War Medal, and the Silver War Badge.
The MIC is dated 9th July, 1915, and shows that he went to France on that date.
The MIC also shows that he was discharged on 5th September, 1917.
The Medal Roll for the award of The 1914-15 Star Medal shows that he was discharged on 5th September, 1917.

On his discharge from the Army, ANDREW was awarded a Pension of £2/19/6 per week.

I found 5 newspaper clipping regarding Lance-Sergeant ANDREW MEIKLE, M.M., including 2 with his photograph.

They are:
A newspaper clipping taken from The Daily Record, page 4, dated 16th September, 1916, reads:
"A Motherwell man has been awarded the Military Medal for gallantry in the field. He is Lance-Sergt. Andrew Meikle, of the Gordons, and before the war he was a driver in the Logans Pit, Motherwell. He is at present in an English hospital".

A newspaper clipping taken from The Daily Record, page 6, dated 21st September, 1916, reads:
"MILITARY MEDAL
(Photograph)
(1) Company-Sergeant-Major Robert Connor (H.L.I.), Glasgow;
(2) Lance-Sergeant Andrew Meikle (Gordons), Motherwell - both have received the Military Medal".

A newspaper clipping taken from The Motherwell Times, page 5, dated 22nd September, 1916, reads:
"LOCAL SOLDIERS WIN MILITARY MEDAL
Other two local soldiers have been awarded the Military Medal for gallantry in the field, Lance-Sergeant Andrew Meikle, and Sergeant James Naismith, both of the Gordon Highlanders.
Lance-Sergt. Meikle is in his 21st year, and before joining the Army he was employed as a driver at the Logans Colliery. He is at present in an English hospital recovering from wounds sustained in the recent fighting. His parents reside at Roman Road Cottage, North Motherwell.
<snip>".

A newspaper clipping taken from The Hamilton Advertiser, page 6, dated 23rd September, 1916, reads:
"MORE WAR HONOURS - More war honours have come to Motherwell this week, two local men have gained the Military Medal for gallantry in the field. Lance-Sergt. Andrew Meikle, Gordon Highlanders, who has gained the coveted decoration, is only in his 21st year. He joined the Gordons shortly after the outbreak of war, and has seen much hard fighting. He is presently in an English hospital recovering from wounds. He was formerly a driver in the Logans Pit, North Motherwell.
<snip>".

A newspaper clipping taken from The Sunday Post, page 16, dated 24th September, 1916, reads:
"GALLANT SERGEANT
(Photograph)
News is just to hand that Lance-Sergeant Andrew Meikle, Gordon Highlanders, of Roman Road Cottage, North Motherwell, has been awarded the Military Medal for heroic conduct at the front. Meikle, who is recovering from wounds in an English hospital, is twenty years of age, and was a driver in the Logan's Pit".

I have transcribed the War Diary for the 9th Battalion, Gordon Highlanders, for the month of September, 1916.
Lance Sergeant 3145 MEIKLE is named with others as being awarded The Military Medal. I have attached a copy of the page from the War Diary where his name is mentioned. I have underlined his name, and highlighted it in red.

An Update.

Because Andrew Meikle is not commemorated by the CWGC, I submitted the records and information to them for consideration in August, 2019. The CWGC replied that they have considered and reviewed the case. They have informed me that they accept the case and have forwarded the information to The National Army Museum who are the final reviewing authority. It will take some time (possibly about 5 years) before a final decision is made.

Further Update.

I received the following email from the CWGC.

13 Oct 2022
Essentially the National Army Museum (the 'relevant military Service Authority') rejected my submission.
---------------------
"Thank you for your submission of Non-Commemoration Case 9557, S/3145 Lance Serjeant Andrew Meikle MM. Please accept our apologies for the extensive delays you have experienced in reaching an outcome with this case. I am replying through the message thread where this Non-Comm case was originally submitted.

We have now received an adjudication decision from the relevant military Service Authority and been instructed that this individual does not qualify for commemoration as a Commonwealth war casualty, according to CWGC’s eligibility criteria. The case was rejected by the Adjudication Board based upon the presented evidence, which determined that the cause of death could not be connected to military service. It was clear that Lance Serjeant Meikle was discharged from the Army due to wounds received, but the location of the gunshot wound injury could not be directly attributed to him contracting pneumonia three years afterwards.

We appreciate this may make for disappointing news. We nevertheless value your patience and hope that you can understand the need to apply our criteria consistently, in line with the decisions that military authorities came to at the time, to ensure that everyone is treated equally. If you require further clarification, please contact us.

Kind Regards,

[name edited for privacy]

Case Officer (Commemorations)".

Lest We Forget!

Medal Rolls Index Card (MIC).