Thomas W. MEERS - WW1 soldier

[Ken Lees]

Once again, I am struggling to find information about a young man who served in the King's Liverpool Regiment in the Great War.

I can't find him on any census, apart from the 1911, which suggests that he was from the West Derby district.

Here's what I know:

Thomas W. Meers was born about 1897 (from 1911 Census) and enlisted into the 9th King's Liverpool Regt. in June, 1914 just a few weeks before the outbreak of the Great War. At the time of his enlistment he worked for Messrs. Henry Tate and Co. at their sugar refinery.

He lived with his parents at 28, Lyell Street, Everton.

He served in France from June, 1915 and was present with his battalion during the Battle of the Somme where he was awarded the Military Medal for "gallantry and devotion to duty whilst under heavy shellfire".

His photograph appeared in one of the Liverpool newspapers about Dec. 1916. (I have a copy but it is not referenced)

Thomas Meers remained in the Territorials in Liverpool after the war, certainly beyond 1920.

Ancestry shows a Thomas W Meers marrying in Q3, 1929 to a 'Pearson'.

I'm stumped. Why can't I find the family in Liverpool?

I'm sure someone here will come to the rescue!

Thanks in advance,

Ken

[MaryA]

For anybody wishing to help, this appears to be the family from the index of the 1911 census.

John 41, Margaret 40, Louisa 20, Janet 18, Charles Edward 8, Bertha 6, John 2, Florence 8 months, but it would seem to be a huge household, lots of other people there too. The Meers seem to give their place of birth as Liverpool.

I think this is them in 1901
69 Byles Street, Toxteth Park, Lancashire
All born Liverpool, Lancashire
John Meers Head M 31 Sugar House Labourer
Margaret Wife M 30
Louisa daur 9
Janet daur 8
Thos. Wm 4
RG13; Piece: 3435; Folio: 188; Page: 28

[MaryA]

LancashireBMD shows the marriage of Thomas W Meers to Jessie Pearson Stoneycroft, All Saints in 1929

[MaryA]

And I suspect this is the marriage of his parents

John Meers to Margaret Henderson, 1890 at Liverpool, Our Lady & St. Nicholas & St. Anne

and 1891 I think Margaret's forgotten her married name
37 Heath Street, Mount Pleasant, Liverpool
John Henderson Head Widr 70 Huxter Hawk Scotland
Margaret daur Mar 20 Liverpool Lancs
Robert Chubb Grandson 10 Scholar " "
John Meers Son in Law Mar 21 General Labourer " "
RG12; Piece: 2915; Folio 87; Page 35

[Ken Lees]

Mary,

Brilliant! Many thanks.

Why can't I find them on the 1901 Census? Could it be the poor indexing by Ancestry? Are you looking at the census somewhere else?

Thanks again,

Ken

[MaryA]

I'm using Ancestry also, no problem with the indexing. I wonder if you are entering "Liverpool" as the town? Usually less is more, I searched using the less common Louis* with parents John and Margaret and just the drop down Lancashire. I even left the surname blank in case it was spelt Mears and Ancestry won't let you have a wildcard for the third letter ie Me* is a nono.

[Ken Lees]

I'm obviously not thinking laterally!

I can't find any likely deaths for him and that would be very useful information.

[MaryA]

I don't think they had any children.

You probably won't find any likely deaths if you are checking the databases, the large number of likely years are images only to check quarter by quarter.

His mother Margaret's death - Q1 1837 Liverpool N 8b 690 age 66.

[Ken Lees]

Is it possible to trace a date of death? What information would I need and where do I start looking?

Ken

[daggers]

Ken
Have you found your man in any Kelly's Liverpool Directories? Some Forum members have the 1938 edition, or access to it, and other years are in the central library, also some at Crosby, I believe.
D

[Ken Lees]

Daggers,

Thanks for the tip.

What information does Kelly's Directory contain? I don't recall ever seeing the publication - probably the price I pay for living out here in the country!

Ken

[daggers]

Ken
In its mainstream days, Kelly's had sections of:
[a] street by street lists of occupier (only one name per household);
alpha list of mostly the same people;
[c] business: alpha, then by trade [think yellow pages];
[d] official section with council details, depts etc, churches, schools, military, clubs/associations etc etc...
I think most editions covered 'wider Liverpool', i.e. Bootle etc., more than the defined city. Publication ended around 1968.

A very useful tool. L'pool's collection is now I think all on microfilm, several years' editions to a reel, as the originals were falling apart. They are in the local history dept. on the 4th floor. Pre-booking is advisable, but an appeal on the forum might well catch the eye of the proverbial SKP [some kind person] or SKS [soul].
D

[jan44]

Hi Ken,

The directories are mainly trades directories, but a bit like a phone book of today.

Only the heads of the household, address and in some cases occupations are given.

I have looked in the 1938 directory and there is one Thos Meers listed, but no occupation given, and the address was 136 Fieldton Road L11.

maybe the next step would be the electoral rolls.

Jan

[MaryA]

Ken you have Ancestry - you need Births, Marriages and Deaths and when you have the page open with all the options you need the bottom one "Death Indexes 1837-1983" don't go for any of the choices which include the word Transcribed.

Enter the surname Meers and a range of years and it will give you a list of them. The icon on the right hand side opens each image, make sure none of the quarters are missing. There aren't many Meers so it's not too difficult a search, just a bit tedious with having to check every quarter, every year. I found Margaret easily because the registration district was Liverpool.

If you intend to carry on this search let me know so we don't duplicate, I've already done up to and including 1942, but have other work to do this evening so I won't continue until tomorrow.

[Ken Lees]

Thanks Mary,

I hadn't found that facility in Ancestry previously.

I've searched up to the end of 1978 and still haven't found his death. The only one that looks similar is in 1953 Q4 (Manchester 10e 408) which shows the name "Tom Meers" aged 56.

Ken

[jan44]

I found that one too Ken, I have also been looking, but I only went to 1962, then I had other things I needed to do.

Jan

[Ken Lees]

Thanks Jan, and Mary.

I have searched up to the end of 1983 and haven't found him. I put his name into the 1984-2005 search on Ancestry but that didn't turn him up either.

Anything else I could try?

Thanks again,

Ken

[MaryA]

I didn't come across Jessie either up to 1942, and I suspect you would have noticed if you had.

Makes me wonder about emigration since if he died in England/Wales the entry should be there.

Is anybody able to try Findmypast, while I look at Ancestry to see if he visited home? Try a few of the Emigration sites, can't remember the dates now but either Castle Garden or Ellis Island, I think it's the latter you want for the date.

Update - no evidence that he visited England if he did emigrate.

[Mark Abbott]

Ken,

Do I assume this is a MM, 1914-15 trio and TFEM? Can you post a photo please?

Mark

[Ken Lees]

Ken,

Do I assume this is a MM, 1914-15 trio and TFEM? Can you post a photo please?

Mark

Research commenced whilst awaiting ribbon.