Allan Illingworth Meacham (1898 - 1968)

Born 1898 in Maidstone, Kent, England

Ancestors

Husband of Doris (Gordon) Meacham — married 1922 in Birkenhead, Cheshire, England

Died 1968 at about age 70 in Fremantle, Western Australia, Australia

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Janet Gunn [send private message]

Biography

In May 1916 Alan (born 1898), then an apprentice in the Electrical Department of Mather & Platt, Park Works, Manchester, enlisted in the Army Reserve. In August 1917 he was instructed to report to the Royal Naval College, Greenwich, London, where he was appointed Temporary Probationary Flight Officer at the RNAS (Royal Naval Air Service), where he took courses in Internal Combustion Engines, Theory of Flight, Electricity and Gunnery Instruction. In late September he was posted to Vendôme, France, where he took further courses on Theoretical Navigation, Theory of Flight, Aeroplane Construction, Aeroplane Rigging and Aeroplane Engines, and took his first flights. By October he was flying solo in a Curtiss JN-4 (“Jenny”) and a Caudron G3 (both biplanes).

At the end of October he was posted to RNAS Cranwell, Lincolnshire, for further Officer Training, flying Avro, BE2C/E, Bristol Scout, Sopwith Pup, Sopwith Camel, and Sopwith 1½ Strutter aeroplanes. He took courses on Wireless, Engines, Carburation, Ignition and Timing, Aerial Bombing and Photography. In January 1918 he held the height record for the station at 18,200 feet flying Sopwith Camel aeroplanes. He was reprimanded for flying “stunts” (loops and spins) in a Sopwith Pup, and was promoted to Temporary Flight Sub-Lieutenant.

At the end of February 1918 he was posted to RNAS Freiston Shores, Lincolnshire, for gunnery and bombing practice. He flew solo in a DH6. In March he was posted to RNAS Manston, “War Flight” in Kent.

In April 1918 the RNAS and the RFC (Royal Flying Corp) were combined to form the RAF (Royal Air Force), and his rank was changed to Lieutenant. In July he was posted to Stow Maries, Essex, flying Sopwith Camels for Home Defense. He fretted at being stuck in a backwater, when he would rather be at the front. He made a number of modifications and invention to “his “ plane, including a “patent box” for holding Very (signal flare) cartridges. He moved the pressure pump from the top outer strut to the undercarriage strut. He made and fitted a new petrol control on his machine, and other pilots copied him. He arranged a Union Jack on the top of his wing so he could salute flagships. On one flight his plane was turned over by wind after landing. The plane was badly damaged, but he was uninjured. He did most of the repairs himself. He continued to fly stunts in the repaired aeroplane. The planes were all notoriously unreliable.

In October 1918 he moved to the 152 Squadron, which proceeded to British Expeditionary Force in France. He wrote to his sister that “I’ve seen some of the most disgusting sights here that are imaginable. Simply Atrocious!!”. At some point Alan cut a rectangular hole in the upper wing of the machine. He also enlarged, into a rectangle, the semi-circular cut out on the rear edge of the wing. He received a commendation for these modifications that were designed to improve upward visibility, and was presented with a sterling silver model, of the aeroplane to commemorate the innovation.

He described the celebrations when the Armistice was announced: “All hostilities have ceased here. With the exception that we have been very busy pooping off 1,000’s of rounds of ammunition, Very lights, petrol, flares of every description and talk about rockets!!!, Well I can tell you it’s fine. I was on patrol over Ghent when news of the Armistice came through. The searchlights opened up first, but instead of searching they all appeared to be drunk. I came to the conclusion that the Portuguese who run them must have had too much whiskey or something and were tight, for they simply whizzed round in circles. Then – lights and flares, blue, green white and red and yellow and rockets and every imaginable thing went up on both sides. All the whole line from Ghent as far South as I could see from 12,000 feet was a blaze of lights. The ceiling of the sky was lit up by it and it was magnificent and awesome to say the least of it. In a short while we are sending up our petrol dump.

Last night the squadron went to Lille and every other squadron round came also. We had a huge banquet and we “threw a big one”. i.e. we had a large!! binge. Tonight the squadron departs by tender for another. They’re going to throw a HELL of a big one. It’s a wonder they didn’t set fire to the place last night. Holt flares and lights, and Very lights etc fired at random and rockets too – in La grande place – Lille. I wouldn’t have missed the sight from the air for anything. I was lucky enough to be up when they opened out. It’s true. I had the greatest fright of my life.”

England & Wales Births 1837-2006

First name(s) ALLAN ILLINGWORTH

Last name MEACHAM

Birth year 1898

Birth quarter 2

Mother's maiden name Wood

District Maidstone

County Kent

Country England

Volume 2A

Page 753

Record set England & Wales Births 1837-2006

Category Birth, Marriage, Death & Parish Records

Subcategory Civil Births

Collections from Great Britain, England

© brightsolid online publishing ltd

Kent Baptisms

First name(s) Allan Illingworth

Last name Meacham

Baptism date 24 Mar 1898

Baptism year 1898

Place Maidstone, St Faith

Residence Pethidge Bower Murt Road

Father's first name(s) Charles Stephen

Father's occupation Brewer

Mother's first name(s) Florence

County Kent

Country England

Archive Kent History & Library Centre

Archive reference P241B/1/B/1

Register type Baptisms

Year range 1871-1938

Page 161

Record set Kent Baptisms

Category Birth, Marriage, Death & Parish Records

Subcategory Parish Baptisms

Collections from England, Great Britain

© Findmypast

Passenger Lists Leaving Uk 1890-1960

First name(s) Allan

Last name Meacham

Title MASTER

Gender Male

Departure year 1900

Departure day 21

Departure month 4

Departure port Southampton

Destination port Cape

Destination CAPE

Country South Africa

Destination country South Africa

Ship name Norman

Ship official number 0

Ship master's first name R

Ship master's last name REYNOLDS

Ship destination port SOUTH AFRICA

Ship destination country SOUTH AFRICA

Ship square feet 1888

Ship registered tonnage 4179

Number of passengers 211

Record set Passenger Lists Leaving Uk 1890-1960

Category Travel & migration

Subcategory Passenger Lists

Collections from Great Britain, England

Transcriptions © brightsolid online publishing ltd

People with same last name on this voyage

Other people associated with this record.

- Meacham (female)

Lilian Meacham

Hilda Meacham

Gednina Meacham

Passenger Lists Leaving Uk 1890-1960

First name(s) Allan Illingworth

Last name Meacham

Gender Male

Age 6

Birth year 1898

Departure year 1904

Departure day 28

Departure month 9

Departure port London

Destination port Cape

Destination CAPE

Country South Africa

Destination country South Africa

Ship name Buluwayo

Ship master's first name E H

Ship master's last name DUNN

Shipping line THE BUCKNALL STEAMSHIP LINES LTD

Ship destination port DURBAN (PORT NATAL)

Ship destination country SOUTH AFRICA

Ship registered tonnage 2803

Number of passengers 65

Record set Passenger Lists Leaving Uk 1890-1960

Category Travel & migration

Subcategory Passenger Lists

Collections from Great Britain, England

Transcriptions © brightsolid online publishing ltd

(with Hilda C.Thorn, governess)

Name Date of birth School Year

Alan MEACHAM 30 Jan 1898 Helensburgh Larchfield School 1914

Alan Illingworth MEACHAM 30 Jan 1898 Helensburgh Larchfield School 1915^[1]

British Royal Air Force, Officers' Service Records 1912-1920

First name(s) Alan Illingworth (Image has “Allan”)

Last name Meacham

Birth year 1898

Birth date 30 Jan 1898

Country United Kingdom

Record set British Royal Air Force, Officers' Service Records 1912-1920

Category Military, armed forces & conflict

Subcategory Regimental & Service Records

Collections from Great Britain, UK None

The National Archives

copyright Crown Copyright transcriptions reproduced by courtesy of The National Archives, London, England.

Address(also given as father’s address)

Lynton Lodge

(Bebington Rd)

Rock Ferry, Cheshire

Prior occupation: Electrician App

Britain, Campaign, Gallantry & Long Service Medals & Awards

First name(s) Alan Illingworth

Last name Meacham

Year 1914

Rank or rating Flight Sub Lieutenant

Service R.N.A.S.

1914 Star roll reference number -

Medals/clasps earned Victory & British War Medals

How issued or disposed of Issued by Air Ministry (for service in RAF).

Notes

On Roll as "Alan J."

Medal type Royal Navy Officers, Medal Roll, 1914-1920

Country Great Britain

Record set Britain, Campaign, Gallantry & Long Service Medals & Awards

Category Military, armed forces & conflict

Subcategory Medal Rolls and Honours

Collections from Great Britain, UK None

Transcriptions copyright Jack Marshall 2010

27 Dec 1917

Alan I Mecham promoted to tempy. Fgt.Sub-Lieut

Listed in 478 THE LONDON GAZETTE, 19 MARCH, 191S.

England & Wales Marriages 1837-2005

First name(s) ALAN H

Last name MEACHAM

Marriage quarter 1

Marriage year 1922

ALAN H MEACHAM married one of these people

Doris K Gordon

Spouse's last name Gordon

District Birkenhead

County Cheshire

Country England

Volume 8A

Volume as transcribed 8A

Page number 800

Record set England & Wales Marriages 1837-2005

Category Birth, Marriage, Death & Parish Records

Subcategory Civil Marriage & Divorce

Collections from Great Britain, England

© brightsolid online publishing ltd

Passenger Lists Leaving Uk 1890-1960

First name(s) Alan I

Last name Meacham

Gender Male

Age 23

Birth year 1899

Marital status M

Occupation FARM SETTLER

Departure year 1922

Departure day 10

Departure month 4

Departure port London

Destination port Fremantle

Destination FREMANTLE

State Western Australia

Country Australia

Destination country Australia

Ship name Moreton Bay

Ship official number 130169

Ship master's first name J

Ship master's last name MASON

Ship master's title CAPTAIN

Shipping line COMMONWEALTH GOVERNMENT

Ship destination port AUSTRALIA

Ship destination country AUSTRALIA

Ship square feet 25245

Ship registered tonnage 8447

Number of passengers 743

Record set Passenger Lists Leaving Uk 1890-1960

Category Travel & migration

Subcategory Passenger Lists

Collections from Great Britain, England, Australasia

Transcriptions © brightsolid online publishing ltd

With Wife Doris K age 27

Address

Dacre House

Bobbington Road

Rockferry, Cheshire

Australia Electoral Rolls

First name(s) Alan Illingworth

Last name Meacham

Sex Male

Year 1939

Occupation Farmer

Street Dacre Hill, Badgebup Road

Address Dacre Hill, Badgebup Road Katanning

Place Katanning

District Forrest

Sub-district Katanning

Number 3156

State Western Australia

Country Australia

Page 53

Record set Australia Electoral Rolls

Category Census, land & surveys

Subcategory Electoral Rolls

Collections from Australasia

© Findmypast

With Doris Kendall Meacham – Home Duties

1943 Freemantle, Western Australia Electoral Roles

7132 Meacham, Alan Illingworth, 20 Bernard street, engineer M

7133 Meacham, Doris Kendall, 20 Bernard street, home duties F

Australia Electoral Rolls

First name(s) Alan Illingworth

Last name Meacham

Sex Male

Year 1949

Occupation Engineer

House name 70

Street Perkin Street

Address 70 Perkin Street Rockingham

Place Rockingham

District Canning

Sub-district Murray

Number 2940

State Western Australia

Country Australia

Page 50

Record set Australia Electoral Rolls

Category Census, land & surveys

Subcategory Electoral Rolls

Collections from Australasia

© Findmypast

With Doris Kendall Meacham – Home Duties

Gordon Alan Meacham- Fitter and Turner

Madeline Florence Meacham - Stenographer

Western Australia Death Index

Record set Western Australia Death Index

First name(s) Alan Illingworth

Last name Meacham

Death year 1968

Birth year 1898

State Western Australia

Country Australia

Place Fremantle

Mother's first name(s) Florence P

Father's first name(s) Charles S

Registration number 733/68

Category Birth, Marriage, Death & Parish Records

Subcategory Civil Deaths & Burials

Collections from Australasia

Findmypast

copyright Findmypast 2015

Sources

1. ↑ School leaving certificate examinations

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