2nd Lieut John Cunningham Meikle
18th June 1941 Newcastle Chronicle
John was the twin brother of Robert Coulson Meikle. He was in the 1st Battalion Durham Light Infantry, who were with the 22nd Guards Brigade in Operation 'Brevity'.
John was recommended for a Mentioned in Dispatches for his actions in the Middle East. This was granted and the "London Gazette" made the announcement on the 30th December 1941.
Both brothers had passed their accountants' examination when they reached their 21st birthday, they received their commissions on the same day, and they served together in the same Battalion. John was employed by Deloitte Plender Griffiths.
Their father was a well known figure in the North Shields fishing industry and a director of R. Irvin and Sons, trawler owners and fish salesman.
John was severely wounded on the attack on Fort Capuzzo on the 15th May. 'A' Company (Captain P.H.M. May) came under heavy fire, but continued to advance steadily and captured their objective in a final bayonet charge. He was lying in an exposed position severely wounded and was bought back into 'A' Company position by the commanding officer, on a carrier so that the Medical Officer Captain R. A. Lees could attend to him. Captain Robin Lees was also wounded in the foot but continued to tend to the wounded behind a wrecked carrier in the open.
John Cunningham Meikle is remembered at Monkseaton in M15.02, N34.36, T36.09 and W84.01.
Both brothers were the first Non-Regular officers to join the 1st DLI Battalion since the outbreak of the War.
John had two uncles who are also remembered on War Memorials, Lieutenant John Meikle, Canadian Dragoons, Serial Number 887. Killed in 1918. And Lieutenant Robert Jardine Meikle, serial number 996 had enlisted in the Northern Cyclist Battalion, but was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the 2nd Battalion Durham Light Infantry. He served in France from the 11th February 1916 and was killed in action 15th September 1916 near the town of Ginchy in the Battle of the Somme.
They are remembered on N34.36, N34.68, T36.09, W84.01, W84.14 and W84.31.
John Meikle is also in W84.30.
The Uncles had a brother called William Ewart (Billy) who had read out the address at the Unveiling of the War Memorial. W84.31. He had survived the War in the 1/9th Battalion Durham Light Infantry.
Additional research: James Pasby
Source: Evening Chronicle 18/06/1942.
