Image: Serjeant William Meredith – source: family image used with the permission of Angela Evans
EARLY LIFE
William Edwin Meredith was born on 2 March 1920. His father was William Edward Meredith and his mother Mabel. He grew up with three younger siblings, Joan, Leslie and Annie.
The 1921 Census (taken 19 June 1921) records that William’s family was living at 32 High Street, Bletchley. His father (William Edward aged 32, born in 1889 in Holloway, London) is listed as a railway engine fireman for the London & North Western Railway Company. His mother (Mabel aged 31, born 1889 in Farthinghoe, Northamptonshire) has her occupation recorded as home duties.
Image: 1921 Census return for the Meredith family – Source: FindMyPast
PRE-WAR EMPLOYMENT
As a teenager, William worked in Moss’ grocery and provision store in Aylesbury Street, Fenny Stratford. One of his jobs there was to pat and shape butter from a large slab, making it ready for sale.
William Meredith was a very keen cyclist and a member of the Swan Wheelers, a local cycling club.
William married Eileen Kathleen Meredith (née Warren) of Kingsbury, Middlesex on 10 January 1942 at the parish Church in Kingsbury, Middlesex (at the time that the 1939 Register was taken, she was recorded as being aged 19, a typist, and living with her parents at 78 Eton Grove, Kingsbury).
ENLISTMENT
William Meredith’s family understand that his ambition was to be a Metropolitan Police officer and he was told that serving in one of the Guards regiments was a route into that career.
William enlisted in Oxford, aged 19, as a Guardsman in the Grenadier Guards on 27 September 1939. His trade on enlistment was recorded as grocer. He joined the training battalion on 3 October 1939.
SECOND WORLD WAR SERVICE
After his initial training, the then Guardsman Meredith was posted to No.1 Infantry Base Depot in France. He had still to join his battalion when he was evacuated from Dunkirk on 4 June 1940.
William joined the 2nd Battalion on his return to England. That unit was to become part of the Guards Armoured Division, equipped with Churchill tanks.
He was promoted to Acting (unpaid) Lance-Corporal in May 1941. Further promotion followed, with him being in the rank of Serjeant by May 1944.
On 30 June 1944 William Meredith’s unit landed in Normandy, and were involved in the Allied break-out from Normandy, fighting at Caen and Caumont.
Image: Service record (part 1) – Source: used with the permission of the family
Image: Service record (part 2) – Source: used with the permission of the family
CASUALTY
At 6am on Sunday 3 September 1944, the Guards Armoured Division started on the push forward to liberate Brussels. Amongst their number was the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the Grenadier Guards. The King’s Company along with No.2 Squadron fought for more than two hours against the German defensive positions at Pont-à-Marcq which were dug in with 200 men, mortars, anti-tank guns and twelve 88-mm guns. The King’s Company lost 15 men killed and 25 wounded. No.2 Squadron’s casualties were also heavy with 7 killed and 6 wounded.
Serjeant William Edwin Meredith was one of those killed in the Pont-à-Marcq on the 3rd of September.
Image: Temporary grave marker – source: Regiment HQ. Used with the permission of Angela Evans
COMMEMORATION IN FRANCE
Serjeant William Edwin Meredith’s final resting place is Lille Southern Cemetery (Plot 5, Row D, Grave 35) which is around 7 miles north of Pont-à-Marcq. The personal inscription on his headstone reads “Daddy, we shall love and remember you always”.
Image: The grave of Serjeant William Meredith in Lille Southern Cemetery – source: Angela Evans
In adjacent graves are Guardsman John Leslie Stacey (grave 34) and Guardsman Leslie Edgley (grave 33), both also from the 2nd Battalion of Grenadier Guards who died on the same day. It seems possible that these were part of the 5 man crew of the same Churchill tank.
Pont-à-Marcq is a significant action in the history of the Grenadier Guards and from 1986 a contingent from the regiment has returned to attend a remembrance service in honour of all those who lost their lives.
Image: Plaque in the Square de la King’s Company in Pont-à-Marcq – source: Angela Evans
COMMEMORATION AT HOME
William Meredith’s parents (his father William Edward who died in 1959 and his mother Mabel who passed away in 1974) are buried in Bletchley Cemetery (Manor Road Cemetery, Fenny Stratford).
On the left-hand page of the stone grave marker is the inscription: “Loving Memory… A dear son and father… Sjt. William E. Meredith… 2nd (Armd.Batt.) Gren.Gd… Killed in Action… Sept. 3rd 1994… Aged 24 Years… RIP”.
Image: Family grave in Bletchley/Manor Road Cemetery, Fenny Stratford - source: author
Knowles Primary School in Bletchley is located very close to the cemetery and in October 2024 the Year 5 pupils painted memory stones for the CWGC casualties buried there. An additional stone was painted for William, and was placed close to the marker which bears his name.
Image: Memory stone laid by Knowles Primary School children in October 2024 - source: author
(It is very likely that William Meredith attended school in the same buildings now used today by Knowles Primary School).
William Meredith is also commemorated on the ‘Men of Sympson’ brass plaque inside St Thomas’ Church in the village of Simpson, Milton Keynes.
THE FAMILY
Graham never met his father as he was born a few months after he died, but on 3 September 2024 he visited Lille Southern Cemetery with other family members. The picture below shows Graham, stood at his father’s grave in Lille Southern Cemetery on 3 September 2024, 80 years after his death.
Image: Graham Meredith, William's son, stood behind his father's headstone - Source: Angela Evans
Graham Meredith, William’s son, is the family custodian of his medals. Serjeant William Edwin Meredith posthumously received the 1939-45 Star, the France & Germany Star, the Defence Medal and the War Medal 1939-45.
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