Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Charles Aloysious Meadows a lime stone labourer, born 1861 in Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire, and his wife Elizabeth Meadows (nee Rollett, married in the 2nd quarter of 1879 in the Loughborough, Leicestershire district), born 1861 in Leicester. William Henry was born in the 1st quarter of 1891 in Seagrave, Leicestershire, his siblings were, Cecily Gertrude, a schoolgirl, born 1880 in Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire, Elizabeth Agnes, a schoolgirl, born 1881 and Kate Milicent, a schoolgirl, born 1888, the latter two siblings were both born in Seagrave, Leicestershire, in April 1891 the family home was at Church Street, Seagrave, Leicestershire. In March 1901 William was residing in the family home at Back Street, Seagrave, Leicestershire, together with his parents and siblings, Sarah Eva, born 1895 and Elsie Victoria, born 1898, both his siblings were born in Seagrave, Leicestershire. In April 1911 William was serving as a Private with the 2nd Battalion Grenadier Guards and was stationed at Malplaquet Barracks, Marlborough Lines, Aldershot, Hampshire. In the second quarter of 1914, William married Eveline Betts in the Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire marriage registration district. In the first quarter of 1915 a daughter, Eveline was registered in the Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire births registration district.
The War Diary records: 4 Sept-14 - Marched at 9:30am, Battalion engaged. Major Jeffreys commanded. Rear party. Marched to Le Bertrand arriving at 11:00pm and bivouacked. 1st Re-inforcements under Lieut. E. W. Ridley joined.
On Friday December 11th 1914 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “DISTRICT WAR ITEMS.” – SILEBY’S ROLL OF HONOUR. - A WORTHY RECORD. – It is estimated that between 80 and 100 men from Sileby are serving in various regiments at the front or in the fleet, and the following is a list of those who have already either fallen or have been wounded, or made prisoners:- Private A. Freer, Highland Light Infantry, died from wounds, and buried with military honours at Versailles, on September 30. He was a reservist and leaves a widow at Sileby. Private W. H. Meadows, 2nd Grenadier Guards, killed in action and buried at Rond de la Reine. He was a reservist, and leaves a widow and one child at Sileby. Private E. Riddle, 10th Hussars, wounded. Private Hollings, 1st Leicester Regiment, has been unofficially reported killed. His parents are unable to obtain any information concerning him, and have not heard from him for five weeks. Sergeant Dennis King, King’s Royal Rifles, died suddenly of heart disease in France. Private A. Widdowson, 3rd Coldstream Guards, reported dangerously wounded on the 14th September. Since that date his friends have been unable to obtain any information concerning him. Private B. Riddle, (brother of E. Riddle). K.R.R., wounded in the foot. Private Shuttlewood, Leicester Regiment, severely wounded, and in hospital at Boulogne. Private A. Sharp, K.R.R., and Private J. Dakin, Leicester Regiment, prisoners of war in Gottingen.