Meikle Twins Durham Light Infantry

I came across your commentary on the 1st DLI action at Fort Capuzzo by chance on a Google search and have now joined the World War 2 Talk Forum.

The Meikle twins were my mothers cousins. I have been researching the family history and would much appreciate anything more you could tell me about them. The sum total of my knowledge of their activity in WW2 is that they were killed at Fort Capuzzo.

Regards

 

I am searching for information about John (Jack) and Robert Meikle, twins serving in the Durham Light Infantry, killed at Fort Capuzzo in 1941.

If anyone has information it would be much appreciated.

 

Hi,
Welcome to the Forum! BobKat14 this is what I know to date of the Meikle Twins
Both brothers joined the 1st DLI they were the first Non-Regular officers to join the 1<SUP>st</SUP> Battalion since the outbreak of War in 1939.Both were Second Lieutenants
2Lt JOHN CUNNINGHAM MEIKLE, regimental no 109566
2Lt ROBERT COULSON MEIKLE regimental no 109567
Sons of of Archie Miller Meikle and Emily Meikle, of Monkseaton, nr Newcastle upon Tyne (Northumberland) CWGC lists Robert as a Chartered Accountant.
The twins are listed in the SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 19 DECEMBER, 1939 as obtaining their commissions from the 17th December 1939 into The Durham Light Infantry. The page can be viewed following this link
Gazette Website: PDF Navigator

Listed here are the other second Lieutenants posted with the Twins
Durham L.I.—John Cunningham MEIKLE
(109566)
Robert Coulson MEIKLE (109567)
David William Wyatt BLACKMAN (109563)
Bertie ELLETT (109564)
Robert Clayton MASON (109565)
Colin Charles MONK (109568
John(Jack) is recorded to have been killed between the 15th and 17th May1941 he has no known grave but is commemorated on Column 67 of the Alamein Memorial he was killed at Fort Capuzzo serving with1st DLI who at that time were part of the 22nd Guards Brigade taking part in Operation `Brevity`. 2Lt John Cunningham Miekle was recommended for a Mention in Dispatches for his actions in the Middle East (Egypt, Libya) this was granted and the announcement was made in the London Gazette on the 30th December 1941(you can download a copy of the recommendation from the national archives by following the link below I believe it costs £3.50

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/details-result.asp?Edoc_Id=7688717&queryType=1&resultcount=5

Robert is recorded to have been killed on the 16th May 1941again at Fort Capuzzo he is buried in 19. F. 6. at the Halfaya Sollum War Cemetary which is on the main coast road from Mersa Matruh through to Libya, and is on the east side of Halfaya Sollum, approximately 12 kilometres from the Egypt/Libya border.During their short lives they saw action with 1stDLI in Egypt and Syria.They were just 24 yrs old when they were killed

Regards
Verrieres

PS have attatched some Photos of Fort Cappuzo

 

I am searching for information about John (Jack) and Robert Meikle, twins serving in the Durham Light Infantry, killed at Fort Capuzzo in 1941.

If anyone has information it would be much appreciated.
Hi ,
BoBKAT14 Welcome to the Forum I`ve just posted the information on a thread called 1DLI Twins I`m sure one of the kind administrators will merge the two if we ask nicely!
Regards
Verrieres

Nicely asked - threads merged. ~A

 

Many thanks to all for prompt actions and responses.

Although this is a WW2 forum, the following may be of interest - the twins' uncles (also Jack and Robert) died in WW1. Jack served with the Royal Canadian Dragoons, but Robert (Bob) was with the DLI (I don't know which Battalion - he joined the 4th for training, but was presumably part of 151st Brigade 6th, 8th and 9th DLI). He was killed near Ginchy in the Battle of the Somme on 15 September 1916 - I have his last three letters home from the front. Jack was killed near Beaucourt on 8 August 1918. I have copies of the letters written by his commanding officers at the time. According to the Durham Record Office, their brother William Ewart (Billy) served with the 9th DLI and survived the War.

Does anyone have any further information?

 

Hi
Bobkat14 do you have any photographs of the twins you could post?
Regards
Verrieres

 

Many thanks Owen. I live not far from Kew and have a reader's ticket for the National Archives, so will try on my next visit.

 

Hi,
W E Miekle was awarded The Military Cross for actions in France & Flanders announced on the 1st September 1918 serving as a Lieutenaunt in 9DLI who were I believe serving as pioneers at the time.
Regard
Verrieres

 

Herewith photos of Jack and Robert Meikle

 

Hi,
Robert Jardine Meikle Regimental number 996 Enlisted Northern Cyclist Btn rank of Cyclist .Commisioned 2Lt into the DLI arrived in France 11February 1916 medal card shows him Decd 15/9/1916 and KIA 16/9/16.I have attatched image of card
Regards
Verrieres

 

Herewith photos of Jack and Robert Meikle

View attachment 10567
Hi
Thanks for that Brilliant to put faces to their stories.Thank you
Regards
Verrieres

 

What an excellent morning's work!

I had no expectation that I would find out so much so quickly.

Many thanks for all your help.

 

Hi,
BobKat14 just did a little digging on your relative who was serving with the Canadians heres the War Diary for the day he was killed he is mentioned on the second page.I have a copy of the Dragoons Roll for 1915 which has him his next of kin and home address I had it here somewhere...I`ll find it and post it for you tomorrow he was in C Squadron Canadian Dragoons Killed in action East of Beaucourt on the 8th August 1918.CWGC lists his nationality as Canadian??
Regards
Verrieres

 

Hi,
Just posting part of the muster role for The Canadian Dragoons for 1915 which shows The Twins uncle `Jack` he is listed as a Private in 1915 but was a Lieutenant when he was killed in 1918.His number is shown as 887 next of kin shown as a J.C.Meikle of Gersham,Monkseaton,England, country of birth England, Taken on strength at Valcartier on September 24th 1914.Hope this is of interest BoBKat14.I`ve found a little more on memorials here in the North East to the twins and their namesake uncles which I`ll post later today.
Regards
Verrieres

 

Hi,
I have found some local memorials (North East) which commemorate both the Twins and their uncles the first one is in Monkseaton itself it is in the form of a book of remembrance held in a wall shrine at the Church of St Mary the Virgin, which is situated on Claremont Gardens Davison Avenue, Monkseaton. It holds the names of 51 soldiers/sailors/airmen/civilians who lost their lives between 1939-45. The book carries Name Rank Number and Specific place of death in the case of the twins it reads
<O:p
MEIKLE ROBERT COULSON
2 Lieut 1<SUP>ST</SUP> DLI<O:p
Killed in Action, Fort Capuzzo, Libya<O:p
16<SUP>th</SUP> May 1941 –Aged 24<O:p
<O:p
MEIKLE JOHN CUNNINGHAM<O:p
2 Lieut 1<SUP>ST</SUP> DLI<O:p
Killed in Action, Fort Capuzzo, Libya<O:p
16<SUP>th</SUP> May 1941 –Aged 24<O:p
<O:p
Regards<O:p
Verrieres

Follow this link for Pictures North East War Memorials Project - Memorial Image<O:p

 

Hi,
More of the same really there is a Bronze Memorial plaque at the Tynemouth Golf Club with the Twins names recorded (15 Names in total for both World Wars to view follow this link.
North East War Memorials Project - Memorial Image
The First War Meikle Brothers are recorded on the War Memorial at Whitley Bay to view follow this link.
North East War Memorials Project - Memorial Image
Robert Meikle (ww1) is commemorated on a Plaque at the Whitley Bay Golf Club.To view follow this Link.
North East War Memorials Project - Memorial Image
Again the WW1 Meikles feature in a stunning memorial window in North Shields at St Columbas Church (former Scotch Presbyterian Church)Northumberland Square and Howard Street.To view follow this link;
North East War Memorials Project - Memorial Image

Hope this is of use

Verrieres

P.S if anyone requires Downloads of any Pictures from the above site then they are available for a small fee which helps these people keep memories alive a great site if your looking for Memorials and well worth supporting.
Link North East War Memorials Project - Home

 

Once again, Verrieres, many thanks for all of this. Sorry for the delayed response. I have been spending the day researching the London Gazette for mention of Robert and William Meikle and have found several entries including the award of William's MC (7th November 1918).

I have also found a record of William's medal in the DLI Musuem, donated by Mary Dobson. Mary was formerly Mary Meikle, younger sister of the twins, and it from her that I received her uncle Robert's last letters home from the front.

Harold Quin was married to Margaret Meikle and also served in the DLI - thanks to you providing a copy of Robert's Medal Roll Card, I have now also found Harold Quin's via the ancestry website. William does not seem to have one. Also there was John's (Jack's) Attestation Paper. Jack was not in fact Canadian, but had left England and was, I am informed, in Saskatchewan at the time of the outbreak of the war, and he chose to serve in the Royal Canadian Dragoons.

Jack's father was John Cunningham Meikle (my great-grandfather) and the family home was at 'Gershom' in Monkseaton. I have a photo of Robert and Jack (in uniform), probably taken in 1915, in the garden of the family home. If this is of interest, please let me know and I will forward a copy.

I will digest all you have sent and be in touch again if need be,

Thanks again.

 

Hi,
BoBKat14 any photograph with a Durham Light Infantry theme is of interest to me! Please if you have a photograph then by all means post it.
Lieut William Ewart Meikle's medals are located in Medal Case 31 , Display Group 21 of the DLI Museum,you predicted my next post! Citation reads ;-
Meikle, William Ewart, Lt. 7 Nov 1918 9th

"For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. When an attack was held up by the density of the forest, he organised sections and led them forward under heavy machine gun fire and established a position on which the battalion was able to form a line. Throughout the whole operations his conduct was distinguished by a complete disregard for his own safety and an energetic spirit of initiative that impressed all who were with him. " The DLI Museum have just revamped their Web site for anyone with a DLI interest please follow the link at the bottom of the post.<!--END WW2 SPECIFIC-->
Thanks
Regards
Verrieres

Welcome Page