A fantastic and rare WW1 set of medals and photo albums pertaining to 3 Brothers from the Meyer family serving in the same 1/6th (City of Glasgow battalion) Highland Light infantry, 52nd Lowland Division.
The brothers were :
- Sgt Alexander Campbell Meyer (253, 358233, 240011)
- Corporal (Dr) Victor Campbell Meyer (1894, 240356)
- Corporal Ernest Campbell Meyer (6130, 636354)
The three brothers, notably of Prussian (Breslau) descent through their father, but from Glasgow, spent almost the entire war together in the same battalion or attached Labour Corps unit, with at least two serving in Gallipoli, both getting wounded within 2 days at sent to the same hospital. The 3rd brother, Ernest is more unclear but he definetly served in the same battalion. Its possible he served in Gallipoli too, but whats more clear is all 3 brothers served in Egypt and Palestine after Gallipoli, including the battles of Gaza and the capture of Railway Junction. Two of the brothers transferred to the Labour Corps, but their unit was still attached to the 6th HLI. A truly unique family, Gallipoli and Egypt grouping with all 3 brothers surviving the war.
The 2 small photo albums belonged to Victor and largely focus on the war in Egypt and Palestine, as well as a trip to Jerusalem. Together they contain 92 photos, 46 in each.
Rare to find WW1 albums covering this theatre of the war which include pictures of the front line and Ottoman prisoners of War. As the brothers served together it is possible that they are all featured
Medals:
- Alexander - WW1 1914-15 Star, WW1 Victory Medal, WW1 War Medal and Efficiency Medal mounted on a metal bar
- Victor - WW1 1914-15 Star, WW1 Victory Medal, WW1 War Medal mounted on a metal bar and with separate ribbon bar - Ernest - WW1 Victory Medal, WW1 War medal
Medal Set includes copies of research materials (though less is known of Ernest)
(Medal quartet) Lance Sergeant Alexander Campbell Meyer (253, 358233, 240011) - MID, WS
Born 1890 in Glasgow, the oldest of the three brothers. Enlisted at the age of 18 in 1909. By late 1914, he was joined by his brothers, serving as a Corporal (253),as part of 6th (city of Glasgow) battalion, Highland Light Infantry, as part of the 52nd Lowland Division.
He sailed for Gallipoli on 26th May, landing at Cape Helles on the 3rd July 1915.He fought in Gully Ravine, before being injured in a 12th July offensive on Achi Baba Nullah (Bloody Valley) in which the British had 2,500 casualties out of 7,500 men.
He took a bullet wound to the left knee, being sent to W Beach clearing hospital back on Cape Helles. He was listed as a "casualty in the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force reported: wounded" on the Casualty Lists issued by the War Office from 7th and 8th August 1915, and was entitled to wear a wound stripe.
The 6th battalion then moved to Egypt, where Meyer followed, as part of the Labour Corps, attached to the HLI, presumably not longer able to fight after his knee wound. He served with the 804th Area Employment Company, Labour Corps in the Egyptian Expeditionary Force, being promoted to Lance Sergeant (358233).
The battalion took over No.3 section of the Suez Canal defences on 2nd March 1916, before fighting in Dueidar in April and the battle of Romani in August. In 1917, they served in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd battles of Gaza, Wadi el Hesi, the capture of Junction Station, the battle of Nabi Samweil and the battle of Jaffa.
The 6th withdrew from Egypt in March 1918. Its unclear how much of this Alexander was involved in being in the Labour Corps but by 1918 he was still serving with the 804th Area Employment Company attached to the 6thin Egypt, being mentioned in dispatches for service in the Labour Corps between 9th September, 1918, to the 31st January, 1919.
He was then discharged from the army in 1919, at the rank of Sergeant, receiving the territorial efficiency medal in 1920 and was awarded the silver war badge for honorary discharge. He also used the service number 240011 but it is unclear what for.
(Medal Trio) Corporal Victor Campbell Meyer (1894, 240356)- WS
Born 1895 in Glasgow. He attended Glasgow High School and Glasgow University. He enlisted at the age of 21 in late 1914 as a Private (1894) as part of 6th (city of Glasgow) battalion, Highland Light Infantry, as part of the 52nd Lowland Division.
He sailed for Gallipoli on 26th May, landing at Cape Helles on the 3rd July 1915. He fought in Gully Ravine and Achi Baba Nullah (Bloody Valley) where Alexander was injured. Victor was himself injured in the aftermath of this battle, taking a shrapnel wound to his lower left leg, being sent to W Beach clearing hospital back on Cape Helles, where Alexander was already being treated.
He was listed as a "casualty in the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force reported: wounded" on the Casualty Lists issued by the War Office from 7th and 8th August 1915, and was entitled to wear a wound stripe.
The 6th battalion then moved to Egypt, where Victor was promoted to Corporal (240356). The battalion took over No.3 section of the Suez Canal defences on 2nd March 1916, before fighting in Dueidar in April and the battle of Romani in August. In 1917, they served in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd battles of Gaza, Wadi el Hesi, the capture of Junction Station, the battle of Nabi Samweil and the battle of Jaffa.
Judging by his albums Victor stayed with his battalion all the way to France, where they took part in the battle of Albert, battle of the Scarpe, battle of the Canal du Nord and the final advance in Artois. Although how much action Victor saw in France is unclear, there are pictures in his album in Grandes Vennes.
He was discharged in 1919.
(Medal Duo) Corporal Ernest Campbell Meyer (6130, 636354)
Born 1893 in Glasgow. He attended Glasgow High School. He enlisted as a Corporal (6130), at some point being promoted to Sergeant and serving as part of 6th (city of Glasgow) battalion, Highland Light Infantry, as part of the 52nd Lowland Division.
Its unclear whether Ernest never served during 1915 or whether his star has gone missing (his medal card is incomplete so doesnt provide much help). If he did serve in Gallipoli with his brothers then he service would have been very similar. He did at some point serve with the 6th, possibly once they'd moved to Egypt. In which case, he would've followed a similar route to Victor.
He did at some point get promoted to sergeant and move to the Labour Corps (636354). Although I have not found any detail on where he served with the Labour Corps, its easy to imagine he followed Alexander into the 804th, with all 3 brothers serving together.
