MEAKIN, Rupert Henry Langridge (1892-1975)
Rupert Henry Langridge Meakin was born on 16 September 1892, the son of Henry Meakin and Clara Julia nee Osborne. He was enrolled at Geelong College in 1903 with an address of Little Malop St, Geelong.
He was working as an Electric Engineer when he enlisted (No 3776) on 28 July 1915 during World War I. He embarked for Egypt on HMAT A40 Ceramic on 24 November 1915. His mother received a cable on 5 September 1917, stating that he had been promoted Corporal, and had transferred from Engineers to the Topographical Section Headquarters (1st Anzac), and that he had been in France since June 1916. He took Paris leave from 30 November 1917 until 9 December, and leave to London from 22 February until 17 March 1918. He transferred to the War Records Section on 9 April 1919, and returned to Australia on HT Nestor, disembarking on 15 December 1919.
The Australian War Memorial (AWM) Collection holds a photograph of the Drafting Room of the Australian War Records Section, London, in June 1919, where the redrawing of the maps and the compilation of mosaics was dealt with. This includes Lieutenant P R Wightman and Staff Sergeant R H Meakin, of the Topographical Section, Australian Corps; Sergeant W S Perry, 2nd Division Artillery; Sergeant FV Pavia, 3rd Australian Field Ambulance, and Staff Sergeant AE Scammell, 10 FCE.
Meakin’s son (No 418142) Flying Officer Allan Roger Meakin (Old Geelong Collegian) was killed during the Second World War while serving with 11 Squadron, RAAF, over Horn Island on 28 April 1944.
Sources: Based on an edited extract from Geelong Collegians at the Great War compiled by James Affleck. p 262 (citing Pegasus; National Archives; Australian War Memorial, D00620).