Personal Details | |
Date of Birth | June 16, 1895 |
Place of Birth | Govan, Lanarkshire |
Country | Scotland |
Marital Status | Married |
Next of Kin | wife, Maggie of Glasgow, Scotland |
Trade / Calling | Rivetter |
Religion | Roman Catholic |
Service Details | |
Regimental Number | 1123 |
Battalion | 17th Wagon Erecting Company |
Force | British Expeditionary Force |
Branch | Royal Engineers |
Enlisted / Conscripted | Enlisted |
Address at Enlistment | Glasgow, Scotland |
Date of Enlistment | June 9, 1916 |
Age at Enlistment | 21 |
Theatre of Service | Europe |
Prisoner of War | No |
Survived War | Yes |
Death Details | |
Date of Death | 19751006 |
Age at Death | 80 |
Buried At | Lake of the Woods Cemetery, Kenora, Ontario |
Plot | RC-A-0-13 |
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.