Private Thomas Joseph Meehan, 4th CMGC, positively identified by the late Richard Laughton of Malton, Ontario on 6 October of 2015. Over ten years later, Mr Laughton’s Investigate Report still under investigation by the CWGC. Twenty-one other reports submitted, or co-submitted by Richard also under investigation.
Plot 1 Row A Grave 19
Hangard Communal Cemetery Extension
11 August 2019, cefrg.ca
Investigative Report
Details of Findings
The findings conclusive the remains in Plot 1 Row A Grave 19 at the Hangard Communal Cemetery Extension those of Private Thomas Joseph Meehan #174645. 4th Battalion, Canadian Machine Gun Corps, killed in action north of Beaucourt, France on August 9, 1918. The findings are based on the following.
11 August 2019, cefrg.ca
CoD
The Circumstance of Death (COD) file for Private Meehan reports that he was killed in action on August 9, 1918. Reported missing from the transport stables at noon on that same date.
His body subsequently found in the hands of a burial party. Located it in a field north east of Beaucourt, killed by shell fire.
This is a most important report to this case. It clarifies not reported missing on or before August 9th. But, at exactly noon on August 9, 1918 he was seen at the stables.
GRRF
Despite the COD reporting that his body in the hands of a burial party, no further mention of the location of his grave. His CEF Canada War Register notes that his name added to the Vimy Memorial. As a soldier with no known grave.
War Diary
The War Diary of the 4th Battalion, Canadian Machine Gun Corps confirms that the unit in which Private Meehan serving at the time of his death in the area where his demise reported.
On the 8 August 1918 the Advanced Battalion H.Q. moved forward to Demuin (Map Coordinates 66E D1 c.5.2).
On 9 August the force in the vicinity of Cayeu Wood (Attachment #3a). The death of 2 OR (Other Ranks) reported, Private Archibald Riggs and Private Thomas Meehan.
This movement placed the 4th Battalion near the woods north east of Beaucourt at Map 66E Sector D18 Grid c.
The death of Private Meehan (sic Meighan) again referenced in the summary of the No. 1 Company Transport resume for August 1918.
Captured with German Brigade Staff by Cdn Cav. Bde. Battle of Amiens.
PA-004546
Map
The overall area for this action shown on an extract of Nicholson Map 11. Denoting the Battle of Amiens form 8 August 1918 to 18 August 1918. The area discussed in the war diary showing the general location of the 4th Canadian Division. Hence the 4th Battalion CMGC, marked in the green square.
Rosieres
The precise locations mentioned in the War Diary of 8 and 9 August 1918 depicted in an extract of the combined trench map identified as “Rosieres (Combined Sheet) 62d.SE, 62c.SW, 66e.NE, 66d.NW” from the Lloyd Reeds Collection, McMaster University Digital Archives.
The map marked to show the points noted in the war diary (Attachment #5).
CWGC
As noted in Items #1 and #3 above, only two (2) reported casualties in the 4th Battalion, Canadian Machine Gun Corps on August 9, 1918. Due to the large number of deaths on August 8, 1918 important to be sure the deaths reported in the war diary matched what reported by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (Attachment #6).
This information confirms that Private Riggs and Private Meehan the two killed on August 9, 1918. Only Private Meehan reported as having no known grave and thus commemorated on the Vimy Memorial.
Private Riggs buried in Grave 6.A.9 at the Crouy British Cemetery.
GRRF
The Graves Registration Report Form (GRRF) for the Hangard Communal Cemetery Extension notes an Unknown Canadian Soldier of the 4th C.M.G. with a date of death of 9-8-1918 buried in Plot 1 Row A Grave 19 (Attachment #7).
As we know that there is only one member of the battalion that meets all of those characteristics, that the remains in that grave are those of Private Thomas Joseph Meehan #174645.
Action Required
The “Investigative Report” has been prepared in accordance with the procedures and criteria set out by the CWGC, should they wish to make any changes to the commemoration details (Attachment #8).
The results of the investigation are conclusive that the remains in Grave 1.A.19 are those of Private Thomas Joseph Meehan #174645, 4th Battalion, Canadian Machine Gun Corps.
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Credit: Wellcome Library, London.