Commemorated: | |||
Awards & Titles: | Volunteer Officers' Decoration | ||
Family :
Father Robert Smith Meggy of Chelmsford (b.1819) and Ann B Meggy. Arthur married Georgianna Mary Roper at St. Andrews, Hornchurch on 24th August 1882.Service Life:
Campaigns:
- The First World War 1914-1918, World-wide.
| Unit / Ship / Est.: 4th Battalion The Essex Regiment |
1/4th Battalion August 1914 : in Brentwood. Part of Essex Brigade in East Anglian Division. Moved to Norwich in late 1914 and on to Colchester in April 1915. May 1915 : formation became 161st Brigade in 54th (East Anglian) Division. Moved late in the month to St Albans. 21 July 1915 : sailed from Devonport for Gallipoli, going via Lemnos. Landed at Suvla bay 12 August 1915. 4 December 1915 : evacuated from Gallipoli and moved to Mudros, going on to Alexandria 17 December 1915. Remained in Egypt/Palestine theatre thereafter. |
| Action : War Survivor |
Although many perished in times of national conflict and in the service of their country, many more survived including those interned as Prisoners of War. Stories of those who did survive are included as part of this site, especially those with high gallantry awards, those included against an external rolls of honour and those who had a distinguished career in wartime and military leaderhip.
Detail :
Chelmsford Chronicle 3rd November 1933 :- "DEATH OF COLONEL A.R. MEGGY - SOLDIER AND FREEMASON - Lieut.Colonel Arthur Robert Meggy, V.D., who passed away at his home, Byway, Harold Wood on Saturday, in his 79th year, was well-known in Essex, particularly in military and masonic activities. He had a long and distinguished service with the Volunteers and Territorial Force. Joining the London Scottish in 1874, he transferred to the Artists Rifles in 1879, and later obtained a commission in the 1st Volunteer Batt. Essex Regt., being attached to C Company at Ilford. He served with this Regiment from 1890 until the 4th Batt. (which he then commanded) left for foreign service in 1915. His eldest son, Capt. Fred Meggy, who was also in the 4th Battalion, was killed in action in France in August 1918.
Col. Meggy's masonic career began in 1877, when he was initiated into Hope and Unity Lodge No. 214, at Brentwood. Subsequently he extended his activities to Royal Arch Masonry and also became a member of several other Lodges. On of his last services was as a founder of the Old Brentwoods' Lodge, in which he took great interest, having been educated at Brentwood Grammar School under Dr. West's headmastership. Provincial grand rank was conferred upon him, his office being that of Grand Warden. During the fiftieth year of his masonic service he was honoured with the rank of Assistant Grand Sword-Bearer of England.
Col. Meggy was a director of Whitehead Morris Ltd., of Fenchurch Street, E.C., printers and stationers, with whiich business he was actively engaged until a few days before his illness. The funeral will be at Hornchurch today (Friday) at 3 o'clock."
Masonic :
| Type | Lodge Name and No. | Province/District : |
|---|---|---|
| Mother : | Lodge of Hope And Unity No. 214 E.C. | Essex |
Initiated | Passed | Raised |
1st January 1884 | - | - |
The contribution records at the United Grand Lodge of England show that he was initiated into Lodge of Hope and Unity No. 214/259 on the 24th July 1884 when it met at Romford. He joined Lambourne Lodge No. 3945 as a founder on 17th March 1919, which shows that he survived the war years. The undated newspaper article shows that he joined, as a founder member, the Old Brentwoods', which he would have done after 1921.
Source :
The project globally acknowledges the following as sources of information for research across the whole database:
- The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
- The (UK) National Archives
- Ancestry.co.uk - Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History online
- ugle.org.uk - The records of the United Grand Lodge of England including the Library and Museum of Freemasonry
Additional Source:
- Founder Researchers : Paul Masters & Mike McCarthy
- Researcher : Bruce Littley