Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Edward Meadwell and Emilia Jane Dorman of Adderley Street, Uppingham, Rutland. His residence in Australia is given as c/o The Cooks. He was an electrician and enlisted the day after the outbreak of war. He served in Egypt, the Dardanelles and France, and was killed by machine gun fire on the Somme on the morning of the 14th November 1916, while laying wires in advance of the front line trench. His officer who was with him at the time wrote:- “I always selected him for this work on account of his coolness and courage under fire at all times. I am intensely proud of all my lads in headquarters, but of none more than he I have lost. I have many times been with him where one would deem it impossible to live, and a more loyal, brave and courageous man never existed. I have twice recommended him for conspicuous bravery.” The following is a recommendation for award for gallantry made by Lieutenant Colonel S. M. Anderson, Commanding 1st Australian Field Artillery Brigade:- “From the 20th – 29th July this N.C.O. showed remarkable endurance and daring in his work as linesman, maintaining telephone lines from Artillery Liaison Officer, Right Battery to Brigade Headquarters. He has constantly been under shell and rifle fire, but despite exhaustion, continued to work until he was knocked down by the concussion of a 5.9 shell. He was considerably bruised and shaken, but otherwise unhurt and resumed work next afternoon. The gallant work of this man has been beyond praise.” His enlistment documents record the following information, he gave his trade or calling as Electrician, having served a 5 year apprentiship with B. L. Ericson of Boston. He stated that he was unmarried and gave his next of kin as J. A. Dorman, Builder of Adderley Street, Uppingham, Rutland. He had served for 3 years in the Lincolnshire Yeomanry. His medical examination took place on Friday 4th September 1914 and recorded that he was 5 foot 6 ¼ inches in height, weighed 140 pounds and had a chest measurement of 37 inches. His complexion was described as fair, with light blue eyes and fair hair. He gave his religion as Church of England. His service record shows that he joined on the 1st Brigade Ammunition Column, 1st Field Artillery Brigade A.I.E.F on the 24th August 1914. He embarked from Sydney Australia aboard H.M.A.T. A8 “A-----r” on the 18th October 1914 to join the Mediteranean Expeditionary Force in Alexandria, Egypt. He was admitted to hospital in Zaheriah, Alexandria, Egypt with tonsillitis on the 29th September 1915, rejoining his unit from hospital on the 11th October 1915. He was transferred to B.H.Q., Te-el-Kebir, Egypt on the 2nd February 1916. He embarked from Alexandria on the 21st March 1916, disembarking in Marseilles, France on the 27th March. He was promoted Bombardier vice Baxter on the 23rd August 1916. He was killed in action in the field on the 14th November 1916. His personal effects comprising, 2 straps, 4 handerkerchiefs, Pinc-Nez support, box and brush were forwarded to his next of kin on the 12th January 1917. A personal letter in his service record would indicate that only his only relative in England was his sister.