Harold William Meek
The soldier:
Harold William Meek enlisted into the army in Norwich, Norfolk. He was assigned to the Norfolk Regiment and given regimental number 13014.
He died ‘at sea’ on the 30th December 1917 aged just 23, approximately 8-10 miles outside of the port of Alexandria, Egypt whist a private in its 3rd Battalion.
The circumstances surrounding Harold’s death are particularly tragic and notable.
The troop ship ‘HT Aragon’, a requisitioned mail and passenger liner had set sail from Malta carrying Harold and over 2350 Commonwealth officers, soldiers and crew to reinforce the existing expeditionary force. It was also carrying supplies and all the Christmas mail from home for those already in Egypt.
The ‘Aragon’ had tried to begin sailing into Alexandria harbour with its escorts, but following a warning of mines was ordered back in to deeper water. Here, with little protection from submarines, the ‘Aragon’ became an easy target.
It was quickly attacked and torpedoed by the German submarine UC-34 (a vessel which sank 19 allied ships during the war) and sank within 15 minutes.
‘HMS Attack’ went to ‘Aragon’s’ aid only to be torpedoed and sunk as well. It exploded and broke in two going under in less than 5 minutes.
There are many eyewitness accounts of well and injured men being ‘rescued’ from the stricken ‘Aragon’ or the sea nearby only to die on the ‘Attack’ or from the dense oil it poured onto the surrounding water as it too went under.
In a matter of minutes 610 men, including Harold had lost their lives. 380 bodies, including Harold’s, were never recovered from the sea.
This attack gravely illustrated the threat of the U-boat and the new types of warfare coming to the fore.
Harold William Meek is commemorated alongside many others who lost their lives in this and other submarine attacks off the coast of Egypt on the CWGC Memorial, Alexandria. He is also honoured on both of Snettisham’s memorials.
The man:
Harold William Meek was born on the 3oth November 1894 in Snettisham, Norfolk to William (29) and Mirriam (26) Meek.
He had two older brothers Charles Edward, born 27th September 1884 and Percy Albert, born 4th June 1892, who were also born in Snettisham.
Harold was baptised in the Spring of 1895 in St. Mary’s church, Snettisham.
In 1901 the family were still living in Snettisham. Harold’s father was a ‘Basket maker’ by trade and he employed others.
By now Charles was 10, Percy was 8 and Harold was 6.
All 3 boys attended ‘Snettisham school’. Charles starting on the 14th December 1891, leaving on the 5th February 1896, Percy starting on the 1st June 1900 and Harold starting on the 1st June 1902 and leaving on the 3rd December 1909.
By the 1911 census the family were living in the Market Place, Snettisham where they had a shop. Charles was now 20, Percy 18 and Harold 16. Their father William was now 46 and still a ‘Basket maker’ and all 3 boys were in the family business.
Both Harold’s brothers Charles and Percy survived the war, Percy also seeing active service in the Norfolk Regiment.
Picture: picture of the ‘HT Aragon’ sinking from the Imperial War Museum
