Service No: 2245239 Aircraftman 2nd Class
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
William Ernest Meakin was born on 16th October 1901 to Paul Theophilus and Ellen May Meakin who had married on 12th August 1899. His father was a member of the Life Guards having attested on 22nd January 1894 at the age of 19. Paul was tall, just over 6 ft and had a large scar on the right side of his chin. In 1911 his children, William and Norman, and wife are living in Regents Park Barracks. He was discharged from the army on 15th August 1915 having been examined and determined as unfit for war, but able to carry out light duties. By 1921 he had moved the family to Birmingham and was serving as a Police Constable. William had started working in the printing industry.
In 1926 William married Dorothy Baker and they were joined by a daughter the following year. By 1939 the family is living at 233 Chester Road, Castle Bromwich and William is working in the printing industry as a Newspaper Machine Minder. On the 29th November 1943 he joined the Royal Airforce Volunteer Reserve. He hadn’t been serving long when he fell ill and on 11th April 1944 he was admitted to RAF Northallerton Hospital. On his discharge on 8th May he was stationed to RAF Defford from whence he was admitted to Innsworth Hospital on 1th June 1944. He was discharged from hospital on 20th July, but remained unfit. On 6th September 1944 William was discharged from the RAF as physically unfit for service.
He died at home in Castle Bromwich on 11 Aug 1945 from kidney disease. He is buried in Castle Bromwich Graveyard by the church of St Mary and St Margaret.
