John Meikle
Sergeant, 4th Battalion. Seaforth Highlanders
- Register No.
- 854 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Sergeant all Sergeants →
- Unit
- 4th Battalion. Seaforth Highlanders all Seaforth Highlanders VCs →
- Date of action
- 20 July 1918 on this day → all of 1918 →
- Conflict / campaign
- First World War
- London Gazette
- 16th September, 1918 on this day → all of 1918 →
- Born
- 11th September 1898 at Kirkintilloch, Dumbartonshire,
- Died
- in action on 20th July 1918 at Marfaux, France
- Memorial / grave
- at Marfaux British Cemetery, France and in Station Square, Dingwall, Scotland
Digest of citation
Sergeant MEIKLE armed only with a stick and revolver, single-handedly rushed forward putting a machine gun, which had been preventing the advance of his company, out of action. A little later, he seized a rifle and bayonet from a fallen soldier then charged on another machine-gun post. He was almost on the enemy machine gun when he was killed instantly, but his action enabled two others, who had followed him to put the gun out of action
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
MEIKLE, John. (reg No. 854).
Sergeant. 4th Battalion. Seaforth Highlanders. * London Gazetted on 16th September, 1918.
Born on 11th September 1898 at Kirkintilloch, Dumbartonshire, Scotland.
Killed in action on 20th July 1918 at Marfaux, France.
Memorials on grave at Marfaux British Cemetery, France and in Station Square, Dingwall, Scotland.
Digest of Citation reads: Sergeant MEIKLE armed only with a stick and revolver, single-handedly rushed forward putting a machine gun, which had been preventing the advance of his company, out of action. A little later, he seized a rifle and bayonet from a fallen soldier then charged on another machine-gun post. He was almost on the enemy machine gun when he was killed instantly, but his action enabled two others, who had followed him to put the gun out of action.
* Duke of Albany's Ross-shire Buffs.
Additional information:. Sergeant Meikle also held the Military Medal. (MM).
Additional information
Sergeant Meikle also held the Military Medal. (MM).
* Duke of Albany's Ross-shire Buffs.
Scotland.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: at Marfaux British Cemetery, France and in Station Square, Dingwall, Scotland
Map links open a search for the place name Alf recorded; please check opening times and exact locations before travelling. Many VC graves have since been restored by the Victoria Cross Trust.
Research this recipient further
Would you like to honour John Meikle by sponsoring this page from £1 a month — in memory of someone, in your own name or for your company? Sponsor this page.