Three Great War soldiers buried in Belgium

More than a century after his death, Private (Pte) William James Meager, a 38-year-old soldier from Bloomsbury in London, has finally been laid to rest with full military honours alongside two other unknown British soldiers.

Members of 1PWRR bringing in the coffin of Pte Meager (crown copyright).

The service, organised by the UK Ministry of Defence’s (MOD) Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (JCCC) was held at the CWGC Poelcapelle British Cemetery, Belgium on 27 September 2023.

Their remains were discovered in August 2019 during a commercial archaeological dig, which was being conducted prior to development on the site. Along with the remains, they discovered various regimental insignia of the former Middlesex Regiment.

The Middlesex cap badge and pipe of Pte Meager that helped with the identification (crown copyright).

JCCC research and DNA testing identified one set of remains as Pte Meager: reported missing on 18 August 1917 during the early stages of the Battle of Passchendaele. With no remains recovered at the time of his death, he was commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial. Despite extensive additional testing, the other two men were not able to be identified so have been buried as unknown soldiers of unknown regiments.

Nicola Nash, JCCC case lead said:
“Although it was disappointing to not name all three men, we are thrilled to finally lay Pte Meager to rest. The Battle of Passchendaele is best known for the horrendous conditions that the soldiers had to fight through and the huge number of casualties. Pte Meager and these two unknown soldiers tragically lost their lives during this battle. Today, we honour their sacrifice and pay tribute to their memory”.

Members of the Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment travelled from the UK to lay their fellow soldiers to rest.

Members of 1PWRR folding the flag (crown copyright).

Alan and Kathleen Meager, great nephew of Pte Meager and Alan’s wife, said:
“We feel extremely honoured to be one of the lucky families whose relative has been found. We are so thankful for all the amazing work that has been done to identify William and for the respect shown by the local people of Belgium.”

The service was conducted by the Reverend Paul Collins, 3rd Battalion, The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment.

Rev Paul Collins leading the service for Pte Meager and two unknown soldiers (crown copyright).

The Reverend Collins said:
“It is wonderful to know that men and women of our armed forces are not forgotten even when they died so long ago. Being able to lay them to rest and conduct the military funeral honouring their sacrifice will be a highlight of my ministry within the Royal Army Chaplains' Department.”

The graves of Pte Meager and the two unknown soldiers will now be cared for in perpetuity by the CWGC.

Director for Central and Southern Europe at the CWGC, Geert Bekaert, said:
“Since his death we have ensured Pte Meager has not been forgotten, but today we are very glad to be able to finally lay him to rest along with two of his comrades at our cemetery. We will care for their graves in perpetuity.”

Members of PWRR with Alan and Kathleen Meager, Great nephew of Pte Meager (crown copyright).

Pte William J. Meager

William Meager was born in Bloomsbury, North London on 19 May 1879. He was the eldest of eight children. In 1901 the family moved to 11 Beamish Road Lower Edmonton. William’s occupation prior to joining the Army is described simply as a ‘porter’ employed by the local Council. On the 29 July 1915 at 37 years of age and a single man, William enlisted for the duration of the war at the Area Recruiting Office in Tottenham.

On 1 July 1915 Pte Meager reported to Mill Hill Barracks, the depot of the Duke of Cambridge’s Own (Middlesex Regiment) and was posted to B Company of the Regiment’s 4th Battalion.

He then undertook a period of recruit training followed by a course that qualified him as a Machine Gunner. He was then posted to the Western Front on the 11 May 1916. William fought in the Battle of the Somme until he was wounded on the 6 July 1916 and was hospitalised in the UK. He returned to the Western Front on the 20 May 1917 and on the 8 July 1917 was transferred to the 16th (Service) Battalion the Middlesex Regiment (Public Schools). He was killed in action on the 18 August 1917 at the battle of Langemarck.

William Meager had served for two years and 51 days. His brother Henry Albert Meager also of the 4th Battalion the Middlesex Regiment was killed in action on the 20 September 1915 just 51 days after William had joined the army.

William was awarded the British War Medal, which was delivered into the hands of his sister Mrs Ellen Burton on the 9 April 1920 and the Victory Medal again delivered into the hands of his sister Mrs Ellen Burton on the 12 February 1921.

Soldiers of the 16th (Public Schools) Battalion, The Middlesex Regiment near Beaumont Hamel on the Somme, July 1916 (National Army Museum, Out of Copyright).