Bertie Meaden

Story:
Bertie Meaden was born in Salisbury, Wiltshire, on 2 Jan 1890 the son of Albert Henry Meaden, a Farmer, and Martha Meaden (nee Rose).  He lived all his early life in both Okeford Fitzpaine and Tarrant Gunville, Dorset, until by 1911 the family had moved to St. James Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset.  During this time Bertie had joined the Territorial Unit of the Dorset (Queen's Own) Yeomanry and served for a three year period.  Sometime after 1911 he had emigrated to Western Australia and it was there he had enlisted with the Australian Imperial Force on 21 Oct 1916 as a Private (Service No. 3182).  He was attached to the 8th Company of the 48th Battalion and arrived back in the UK on 16 Feb 1917 on his way to France & Flanders with the rank of Corporal.  He was seriously wounded at Passchendaele, Belgium, on 4 Jun 1917 receiving shrapnel injuries to his left thigh and right knee which were described as 'severe'.  He was eventually repatriated to the UK and admitted to the War Hospital, Epsom, Surrey.  He was finally discharged in the UK as being medically unfit for further service on 1 Apr 1919 and awarded the Silver War Badge No. A14474 as well as qualifying for the Victory and British War Medals.  Having decided to remain in the UK he had gone on to marry Louisa Fletcher at St. Mary's Church, Tarrant Gunville, Dorset, on 23 Apr 1919.  By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at The Drum Inn, Primrose Hill, Wimborne, Dorset, described as a Farmer and Innkeeper.  His died in Wimborne on 2 Jul 1975 his last address being shown as 'Uplands', Gaunts Common, Wimborne, Dorset. He had three brothers who also served, Edwin Arthur Meaden (who died of wounds), as well as Frederick John Meaden and Walter Frank Meaden, (who both survived).  All their names were on a Roll of Honour published in the St. James's Church, Shaftesbury, Parish Magazine in Nov 1918.