Bernard Meeson
1882 - 1917

 Researched and compiled by Sheila Clarke and Carole Jones

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The Family Tree of the Meeson Family

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Copies of documents used in compiling this biography

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Above is a copy of the 1882 birth certificate for Bernard Lowe. The birth was registered by Elizabeth Lowe who signed her name. The registrar wrote ‘mother’ at the side of her name.

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The 1851 census (above) shows the family with the surname Meeson. Below, the 1861 census shows the family with the surname Lowe. Why this name change took place is not apparent. It could have occurred at any time during the previous ten years.

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The Military Career of Bernard Meeson (Lowe) 1901 to 1907

Military documents 1 to 4 for 1901 to 1907

The Military Career of Bernard Meeson (Lowe) 1907 to 1908

Military documents 5 to 8 for 1907 to 1908

The Life of Bernard Meeson

There are many unanswered questions about Bernard Meeson. The research has given some answers but even now we may not have the full or true story, particularly his life before he joined the Army. Until the mid 1960s the Wincer family, still living in Penkridge, did not know of their connection with Bernard. Then an old villager told a member of the family that there was a link but did not give details. When a member of Burntwood Family History Group began researching the family for the Burntwood Memorial Project she was told of the rumour and began to uncover the story. The research was passed to abother member of BFHG who has continued to try to solve several mysteries surrounding Bernard’s family.

 Bernard’s grandmother and grandfather were known as Benjamin and Eliza Lowe. However, at the time of their marriage, Benjamin was called Benjamin Meeson and Eliza’s name was Elizabeth Stockley. Benjamin’s mother Elizabeth Merricks was married twice. Her first husband was Samuel Meeson (1791 - 1816). Benjamin was born on 26th October 1816 and baptised on 10th November 1816 at St Lawrence’s Church, Gnosall. After the death of Bernard’s father in 1816, Elizabeth married Edward Lowe (1788 - 1843).

The 1851 census (Picture 4) shows the family name as Meeson but by the 1861 census (Picture 5) the surname of the family had changed to Lowe. At the time of the 1881 census (Picture 6) the Lowe family were living in Clay Street, Penkridge. Also in the house were their son James Lowe, aged 24 (whose surname had been recorded as Stockley on the 1851 census); a daughter Elizabeth 23; a younger son William, aged 17, and two further daughters Ann, 15, and Eliza, 13. At the time, Benjamin and James were working as general labourers. Living next door to the Lowe family in Clay Street was Ann Wincer, a widow, and her 22 year old son Richard Wincer, who was an apprentice.

 Bernard was born on 29 July 1882 at Clay Street, Penkridge, to Elizabeth Lowe. The registeration of Bernard’s birth by Elizabeth Lowe on 23 August 1882 states that she was his mother. No father was recorded on the birth certificate (Picture 3). In the summer of 1886 Elizabeth married Richard Wincer. On the night of the 1891 census the Wincer family were living in New Road, Penkridge, together with two sons, Thomas aged 4 and William aged 1 year. Richard was working as a bricklayer’s labourer. Richard Wincer died in 1892 aged 34.

 Nearby, still in Clay Street, lived Eliza Lowe, now a widow in 1891. Benjamin’s death was recorded in the July, August and September quarter of 1890 under the name Benjamin Meeson (Cannock District, Volume 6b, Page 261). Benjamin’s widow Eliza is recorded as being in receipt of outdoor relief. This help from the Penkridge Union Workhouse could be financial or food and clothing, and was given so that the recipient did not have to leave their home and enter the Workhouse. In her house on the night of the census were her son James aged 44, a labourer, and daughters Annie 25 and Eliza 23, both listed as charwomen. Also there was Bernard Lowe aged 9 who was recorded as Eliza’s son (clearly an error).

 In 1901 Bernard Lowe joined the Militia for 6 years and was attached to the South Staffordshire Regiment. On 24th May 1907 he signed on for four more years. He was given a free discharge on 13th June 1908. {Military pages 1 to 8}

 Elizabeth Wincer was recorded as a widow on the 1901 census (Picture 8). She was 43 years of age and was working as a charwoman. Living with her at Biddles Bank, Boscomoor, Penkridge were her sons Bernard Wincer aged 18, an under shepherd, Thomas Wincer aged 14, an under waggoner, and William Wincer, aged 12.

 On 21st August 1910, Bernard was taken to court for pilfering wood from a local lumber yard. He was fined £1 plus £1 3s costs. Elizabeth Wincer was still living at Biddles Bank, Boscomoor, in 1911 (Picture 9A). No occupation was recorded for her. In her two-room cottage were two lodgers: Bernard Lowe, aged 28, working as a labourer, and William Wincer, aged 22, working as a farm labourer. It is probable that these young men were two of Elizabeth Wincer’s sons.

The 1911 census records Isabella Mary Gripton, the future wife of Bernard Meeson, as being an inmate of the Union Workhouse in Wolverhampton Road, Cannock (Picture 9). She may have been awaiting the birth of her daughter Doris Phyllis Gripton, who was registered in the July, August and September register for 1911 (V0lume 6b, Page 973).

On 29th October 1911, Elizabeth Mary Gripton and Bernard Meeson, now a miner, were married at St. Luke’s Church in Cannock (Picture 10). Bernard had reverted to his grandfather’s birth surname. Bernard probably entered a fictitious father’s name, though the father’s occupation was entered as “bricklayer”, which had been the trade of his stepfather Richard Wincer. Bernard’s age is given as 25 although he was 29 years of age. He and his new wife signed the marriage register. Bernard was working as a miner, probably at the West Cannock Colliery.

The West Cannock Colliery Company was based at Hednesford. The first shaft had been sunk in 1869. The company had leased the land, with the minerals beneath it, from the Marquis of Anglesey. Further shafts were sunk in 1914. At the outbreak of the Great War in 1914 Bernard may have still been a miner, or he may have been working for Cannock Urban Council.

Bernard and Isabella were living in Cannock, where another daughter Eliza, was born in 1915. He enlisted in the 7th (Service) Battalion of the Staffordshire Regiment at the Hednesford Drill Hall. The exact date of his enlistment is unknown but, as a Territorial, he may have joined the regular army in 1914.

The 7th (Service) Battalion of the Staffordshire Regiment had been formed at Lichfield in August 1914 as part of the K1 Army Group, in Kitchener’s New Army. It became part of the 33rd Brigade in the 11th (Northern) Division. They sailed from Liverpool for Gallipoli in July 1915. They landed in Suvla Bay on 7th August 1915. During the Battle of Suvla Bay, the British suffered 8000 casualties with little success. They were evacuated to Egypt in December 1915.

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On 22nd January 1916, the Cannock Advertiser reported that Private Bernard Meeson (34) had been arrested as being absent without leave. Described as being a member of the Hednesford Territorials, he had been up before the Cannock Police Court charged as an absentee from the 5th Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment. Police Constable Cooke gave evidence that the defendant had told him that he had paid 14s 6d for a train ticket to return to his regiment at Leigh-on-Sea but when he arrived his regiment had left the place. A remand was ordered pending the arrival of an escort.

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The 11th Division were sent to France in July 1916. Bernard Meeson was among the men who were sent there to join the 7th Battalion. The 11th Division gained a reputation as the best Division in the British Expeditionary Force and performed particularly well at the Third Battle of Ypres (Passchendale) between 27th July and 9th October 1917. They fought at the Battles of Langemarke (16 - 18 August); Polygon Wood (26 September - 3 October); Broodseinde (4 October); and Poelcapelle (9 October 1917).

Before Ypres became a battle zone it was a town with many fine buildings. Frederick L Coxon (Royal Field Artillery) recorded this in his diary begun before the First Battle of Ypres. After the battle he recorded: “the whole countryside was in a horrible condition, not a building standing. All the beautiful buildings destroyed.”

The devastation of Ypres can be clearly seen in the photographs taken after the battle.

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The War Diary of the 7th Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment for December 1917 makes interesting reading though the writing is now rather feint. The records for the days leading up to the death of Private Bernard Meeson have been copied here as accurately as possible. After the Third Battle of Ypres, the front line still had to be defended. No easy task.

Extracts from the War Diary of the 7th Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment

December 1917: Place - The Front Line

1st December 1917
The Battalion was relieved in Front Line by 9th SHERWOOD FORESTERS on night of 1st/2nd December and moved back to Divisional Reserve at LES BREBIS. Details of move shown in Move Orders as Appendix “A”.
Battalion Strength: Officers 21, Other Ranks 510
Trench Strength: Officers 15, Other Ranks 434.

Les Brebis

2nd – 6th December 1917
The Battalion carried out training such as Bayonet Fighting, Musketry and P.T. from 9 to 1p.m. daily under Company Commanders during the period in Reserve. Lectures on various subjects were given by the Commanding Officer. Officers and N.C.O.s Lecture by Lt. Col. W.H. CARTER, D.S.O. M.C., subject “War Saving Certificates” at 2 p.m. 4th December 1917.

7th December 1917
The Battalion received orders from 33rd Brigade to relieve 9th SHERWOOD FORESTERS in the line on night of 7th/8th. This move was carried out as shown in Move Order Appendix “B”. The relief was carried out without incident.

8th December 1917
Work in trenches consisted mainly of wiring parties and repairing trenches. Hostile trench mortar busy during the day. An organised strafe by 4.5 chin howitzers and 6 chin howitzers on the night of the 8th on two groups of hostile trench mortars.
Casualties:
Wounded: 19912 Private J. POOLE, 10354 Private E. MOUNTNEY
Battalion Strength: Officers 24, Other Ranks 483
Trench Strength: Officers 18, Other Ranks 407.

9th December 1917
Hostile shelling during the day on Front and Support Lines, and Forward Communication Trenches. Hostile trench mortars busy on our Front Line during the day, at times using Gas Bombs in these bursts.
Casualties:
Wounded (but remained at duty): 10630 Private W. KITSON

10th December 1917
Usual work carried on in trenches, wiring parties and repair. Owing to re-organisation of Brigade Front, the Battalion received orders from 33rd brigade that relief by the 9th SHERWOOD FORESTERS would take place on night 10th/11th, the Battalion to proceed to Support Area CITE ST. PIERRE. Detail of the relief attached as Appendix “C”. The relief was completed at 7.58 p.m. and was carried out without incident.
Casualties:
Killed: 17444 Private G. FELLOWS
Wounded (gassed), afterwards reported Died from Gas Poisoning: 40204 Private B. MEESON
Wounded: 38064 Private W.J. RICHARDS
Wounded (gassed): 10100 Sergeant J. CHARD, 30857 Private F. HOWARD F
During the tour of the Battalion in the line, the enemy appear to have used Gas from projectors but only on a small scale.

The War Diary was signed off in the margin each day with the initials of Lieutenant Colonel William Henry Carter. He most likely wrote each entry. I have not come across another War Diary where the casualties include the names and numbers of the ordinary Tommy as well as the commissioned officers. He seemed to be a Commanding Officer who, perhaps because he had risen through the ranks, wanted to record the names and numbers of all the wounded and dead soldiers who had been under his command.

Even in death Private Bernard Meeson remained somewhat elusive. For some years, there was uncertainty as to whether he died on 5th or 9th December. It is now accepted, as the entries in the War Diary suggest, that Bernard died on 9th December. The Battalion was behind the lines between 2nd and 7th December, undergoing training and lectures; the German attack did not occur until 8th and 9th December, and gas bombs were used by the enemy on 9th December, the cause of Bernard’s death as cited in the War Diary, which is recorded on 10 December. Bernard is buried at the Loos British Cemetery and his grave/memorial reference is XX.E.5

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Fallen in the Fight
Pte. Bernard Meeson of Chadsmoor
Local Territorial Died of Wounds

{Extract from the Cannock Advertiser 6th January 1918}

The wife of Private B. Meeson of the South Staffs. Regiment has official news that her husband died of wounds on December 9th. The deceased, who was a local Territorial, had been on active service since August 1914 when the Territorials were mobilised. Prior to serving with the Territorials Meeson was connected with the Militia. He was a native of Penkridge, and at one time was employed by the Cannock Urban Council, while preceding the outbreak of war he worked at the West Cannock Colliery. Although he had taken part in some of the stiffest battles of the war on the Western Front, he had steered clear of injuries until the day he was fatally wounded. Private Meeson, who was 35 years of age, has one brother serving with the colours. Rather singularly he came over on furlough on the day the sad news concerning Pte. Meeson came to hand. The deceased leaves a wife and two children who reside at 41 Cannock Road, Chadsmoor.

Bernard Meeson was awarded the Victory Medal and the British War Medal. 6,610,000 War Medals were awarded. The recipients of the War Medal were also entitled to the Victory Medal.

The cemetery was begun by the Canadian Corps in July 1917, and the graves then made are contained in Rows A and B of Plot I and Row A of Plot II. The remainder of the cemetery was formed after the Armistice by the concentration of graves from the battlefields and smaller cemeteries over a wide area North and East of the village, including:-

BARTS ALLEY CEMETERY, VERMELLES, about 1 kilometre North-East of the village, named from a communication trench in which a Dressing Station was established. It contained the graves of 38 soldiers from the United Kingdom, who fell, for the most part, in the Battle of Loos.

CALDRON MILITARY CEMETERY (RED MILL), in the Southern part of the town of LIEVIN, in which were buried 85 soldiers from the United Kingdom (mainly of the 46th (North Midland) Division), 38 from Canada and one German.

CITE CALONNE MILITARY CEMETERY, LIEVIN, in the middle of a mining village between Grenay and Lievin. The cemetery was begun by French troops and used by the British from March, 1916, onwards. It contained the graves of 207 soldiers from the United Kingdom, five from Canada, 130 French and six German.

CORKSCREW CEMETERY, LOOS, which was close to the mine known as Fosse II. It contained the graves of 168 soldiers from the United Kingdom and 38 from Canada.

COURCELLES-LES-LENS COMMUNAL CEMETERY, in which 19 soldiers and one airman from the United Kingdom, mainly of the 12th (Eastern) Division, were buried in October, 1918.

LIEVIN STATION CEMETERY, on the North-West side of the railway station, used in 1917 and containing the graves of 48 soldiers from the United Kingdom (almost all of the 46th (North Midland) Division) and 12 from Canada.

LOOS (FORT GLATZ) GERMAN CEMETERY, named from a German strong point at the North-West corner of the village, and containing the graves of three soldiers from the United Kingdom who fell in the summer of 1915.

The great majority of the soldiers buried here fell in the Battle of Loos.

There are nearly 3,000, 1914-18 and a small number of 1939-45 war casualties commemorated in this site. Of these, two-thirds from the 1914-18 are unidentified and special memorials are erected to two soldiers from the United Kingdom and four from Canada who are known or believed to be buried among them. Other special memorials record the names of 44 soldiers from Canada and 12 from the United Kingdom, buried in other cemeteries, whose graves were destroyed by shell fire.

The cemetery covers an area of 11,364 square metres and is enclosed by a rubble wall.

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Bernard Meeson’s half-brother 24508 Private William Wincer joined the South Staffordshire Regiment at Lichfield on 26th April 1916. He came home on leave the day Bernard’s wife Isabella received the news of Bernard’s death. William survived the war and married Ruby Grace Farnell in 1924. {William Wincer was the son of Bernard’s mother Elizabeth Lowe and her husband Richard Wincer.}

The Meeson Family after the death of Bernard Meeson

Following Bernard’s death in December 1917, his wife Isabella Mary Meeson married John William Amos at St Luke’s Church in Cannock 29th July 1918. The couple went on to have 2 children together, John Thomas Amos in 1921 and Daisy Amos in 1924.

Transcript of an article appearing in The Cannock Advertiser in 1922 regarding the death in a traffic accident of Bernard and Isabella’s youngest daughter Eliza Ellen Meeson

A Warning to Parents
Inquest on Child Victim of Street Accident

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The death of Bernard and Isabella Meeson’s daughter Eliza was also reported in the 17th March 1922 edition of the Lichfield Mercury.

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Bernard Meeson’s name is recorded on the War Memorial in the Churchyard of St. Michael and All Angels in Penkridge, Staffordshire, the town in which Bernard was born.

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The War Memorial in the Churchyard of St. Michael and All Angels in Penkridge, Staffordshire

Bernard and Isabella and their two children lived in Chadsmoor. The Chadsmoor War Memorial was dedicated by the Bishop of Wolverhampton on 19th April 2015 to honour the 160 men from the village who died fighting in the First World War. It is thought that no memorial had been erected after the war because villagers had been too poor to pay for one. Bernard Meeson’s name was added to the War Memorial on 9th October 2016.

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Item, Source and Credit

1. Photograph of Private Bernard Meeson from the 5th January edition of the Cannock Advertiser, improved and approved for publication by Andy Johnson of the Western Front Assocation © Cannock Advertiser
2. Family tree for the Meeson Family © Sheila Clarke
3. Copy of the 1882 birth certificate for Bernard Lowe (Meeson) © Staffordshire Record Office
4. Extract from the 1851 census for the Lowe/Meeson family © Ancestry
5. Extract from the 1861 census for the Lowe/Meeson family © Ancestry
6. Extracts from two successive pages from the 1881 census for the Lowe/Meeson family © Ancestry
7. Extract from the 1891 census for the Lowe/Meeson family © Ancestry
8. Extract from the 1901 census for Elizabeth Wincer © Ancestry
9. Extract from the 1911 census showing Bernard Meeson’s wife Isabella Mary Gripton in the Cannock Union Workhouse © Ancestry
9A. Extract from the 1911 census for Elizabeth Wincer © Ancestry
10. Extract from the Burntwood Family History Group transcription file for St. Luke’s Church, Cannock, showing the marriage of Bernard Meeson and Isabella Mary Gripton © Burntwood Family History Group transcription file for St. Luke’s Church, Cannock
11. Key areas during the Gallipoli campaign 1915 © Turkish Ministry of Tourism
12. Report from the 22nd January 1916 edition of the Cannock Advertiser © Cannock Advertiser
13. Gigantic shell crater at Ypres, 75 yards in circumference, 3 October, 1917 © Australian War Memorial {https://www.awm.gov.au/}
14. German prisoners being marched through the Cathedral Square, Ypres, 20th September 1917 © Imperial War Museum
15. A loaded limber passing the ruins of the Cloth Hall at Ypres © Australian War Memorial
16. Ypres, 1917 © Toerisme Ieper website {http://www.toerismeieper.be/en/page/142-157/ypres-and-wwi.html}
17. William Henry (Harry) Carter - on the right - in the trenches early in the 1914-18 war © Christopher Carter Reeves and the Great War Forum website {https://www.greatwarforum.org/topic/201832-identity-of-7th-south-staffs-officers/}
18. Portrait of William Henry (Harry) Carter © Christopher Carter Reeves and the Great War Forum website {https://www.greatwarforum.org/topic/201832-identity-of-7th-south-staffs-officers/}
19. Private Bernard Meeson’s record on Soldiers Died in the Great War © Ancestry
19A. Burial details for Private Bernard Meeson from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission © Commonwealth War Graves Commission
20. Commonwealth War Graves Commission certificate commemorating Private Bernard Meeson © Commonwealth War Graves Commission
20A. Plan of Loos British Cemetery showing the location of the grave of Private Bernard Meeson © Commonwealth War Graves Commission
21. British War Medal obverse and Victory Medal obverse © Cultman Collectables website {https://www.cultmancollectables.com/shop-online/military-medals?product_id=2489}
21A. British War Medal reverse and Victory Medal reverse © Cultman Collectables website {https://www.cultmancollectables.com/shop-online/military-medals?product_id=2489}
22. Loos British Cemetery © Commonwealth War Graves Commission
23. The informal will of Private Bernard Meeson © The National Archives and Staffordshire Regiment Museum
24. The will of Private Bernard Meeson © The National Archives and Staffordshire Regiment Museum
25. The medal card for Private Bernard Meeson © Ancestry
26. First page of the attestation papers for William Wincer © Ancestry
27. Transcript of The Cannock Advertiser report on the inquest into the death in a traffic accident of Bernard and Isabella’s youngest daughter Eliza Ellen Meeson © The Cannock Advertiser
28. Report of the death of Bernard and Isabella Meeson’s daughter Eliza in the 17th March 1922 edition of the Lichfield Mercury © Lichfield Mercury
29. The War Memorial in the Churchyard of St. Michael and All Angels in Penkridge, Staffordshire © the website MilitaryImages.Net
29A. The names recorded on the War Memorial in the Churchyard of St. Michael and All Angels in Penkridge, Staffordshire © the website War Memorials Online
30. Chadsmoor War Memorial © The Great War, Staffordshire website {http://www.staffordshiregreatwar.com/2015/04/new-chadsmoor-war-memorial/}

Pages from Bernard Meeson’s military career

Military pages 1 to 4 for 1901 to 1907 © davidbate115 Ancestry tree for Bernard Meeson {https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/person/tree/9575309/person/-778174308/facts}
Military pages 5 to 8 for 1907 to 1908 © davidbate115 Ancestry tree for Bernard Meeson {https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/person/tree/9575309/person/-778174308/facts}