Kenora Great War Project

 

Personal Details
Date of BirthJune 16, 1895
Place of BirthGovan, Lanarkshire
CountryScotland
Marital StatusMarried
Next of Kinwife, Maggie of Glasgow, Scotland
Trade / CallingRivetter
ReligionRoman Catholic
Service Details
Regimental Number1123
Battalion17th Wagon Erecting Company
ForceBritish Expeditionary Force
BranchRoyal Engineers
Enlisted / ConscriptedEnlisted
Address at EnlistmentGlasgow, Scotland
Date of EnlistmentJune 9, 1916
Age at Enlistment21
Theatre of ServiceEurope
Prisoner of WarNo
Survived WarYes
Death Details
Date of Death19751006
Age at Death80
Buried AtLake of the Woods Cemetery, Kenora, Ontario
PlotRC-A-0-13

Meek, Thomas McDougall

Thomas McDougall Meek was born on 16 June 1895 in Govan, Lanarkshire, Scotland.   His parents were Matthew Meek and Martha McDougall.

He married Margaret Melvin on 15 January 1915 in Glasgow, Scotland and listed his occupation as ‘rivetter’.

On 09 June 1916, Thomas enlisted with the 5th Battalion, Scottish Rifles (regimental # 1123). He was discharged from this unit just over a month later due to ‘Defective eyesite’ and enlisted with the Royal Engineers on 06 August 1916 with the rank of sapper (regimental # 193689).  When Thomas was demobilized on 13 July 1919 he was serving with the 17 Wagon Erecting Coy. of the Royal Engineers (regimental # 258821). In May of 1922 Thomas was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

Thomas immigrated to Canada in September of 1923 on the vessel S.S. Marburn. He listed that he was going to his step-brother, George McDougall in Keewatin, Ontario. He was employed at the Lake of the Woods Milling Company for 42 years and for 17 years as caretaker at the Keewatin Post Office.

Thomas and Margaret had seven children: Thomas Jr., George, Margaret, Martha, Alice, Evelina and Theresa. George served in WW2.

Thomas was very active in his community. He was a charter member of the Knights of Columbus; charter member of Notre Dame Credit Union; charter member and past president of the Keewatin Legion Branch No. 13.   He served on the St. Joseph Hospital Board for more than 25 years and on the Keewatin School Board for 25 years. In his younger years he participated in boxing and won many trophies. In later years Thomas trained Keewatin youth in the art of boxing. He was also an ardent member of the Keewatin Curling Club.

Thomas died on 06 October 1975 and is buried in Lake of the Woods Cemetery, Kenora, Ontario.

Meek-Thomas-McDougall-1a Meek-Thomas-McDougall-2 Meek-Thomas-McDougall-3 Meek-Thomas-McDougall-3b Meek-Thomas-McDougall-4 Meek-Thomas-McDougall-5


« Back To Soldier Biographies