Thank you to Wendy Shuttleworth for the following information.
Robert Meakins was born in Dorking in 1892 to parents Thomas and Elizabeth. Robert’s father was the local Coal Merchant.
By 1901 Robert’s mother had died and he was living with his father, brothers and sisters at 60 High Street Dorking.
In 1911 Robert had moved away and was living at 8 Queens Road Evesham and was an Assistant Chemist, by 1914 and 1915 he was in Church Street, Chertsey.
2nd LIEUT. R. W. MEAKINS
Royal West Kent Regt.
2nd Lieut. “Bob” Meakins, reported missing, is the youngest son of the late Mr. Thomas Meakins, of Dorking. Twenty four years of age, he joined the Hon. Artillery Company towards the end of last year, and got his commission in the West Kents in September. He had only been in France for about a month. His commanding officer, in a letter received, says Lieut. Meakins was out in front of the trenches with a working party on Aug. 27th. He was sent back with a message, but never arrived. A search was made for him, and all this ground, a few days afterwards, was in our possession, but there was no trace of him, although when last seen he was only about 50 yards in front of the trenches then held. Lieut. Meakins might have walked into a German battery, or been hit by a shell, but the search party had not been able to clear up the mystery. Before joining the Army the young officer was engaged as a chemist at Weybridge.
Bob Meakins Missing Notice 23rd September 1916 © Surrey Advertiser
When he enlisted he was a private and then promoted to 2nd Lieutenant. Was sent to France on the 1st August 1916 and died twenty six days later.
| Born | Dorking, Surrey | |
| Son of | Thomas and Elizabeth Meakins | |
| Regiment | 1st Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment | |
| Number | 3517 | |
| Date of Death | 27th August 1916 | |
| Place of Death | France | |
| Cause of Death | Killed in Action | |
| Age | 24 | |
| Memorial | Thiepval Memorial, France |
