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Peters, Meshack

Meshack Peters was born around 1893 in Hope Flintshire. He was first recorded in a census in  1901. He was living with his family in Cymau. The family consisted of his parents Edward, age 39 and Sarah 36 The listed children were: William 18, Meshack 8,  Sarah J 14 Rosella 11 Elerd (Clara possibly)8 months. Both Edward and his Son William were coal miners.

The 1911 census records the family living in Plasmain Cottages Cefn Y bedd. Edward Peters was the head of the family; he was then 49 years old and was still a coal miner. Sarah Ellen was 47 years old; the couple had been married for 27 years, having seven children, six of whom had survived.  William Albert was 26, single and working as a coal miner. Mesheck was 18, single and a coal waggoner. Mary E Peters was 15,  and ‘assisting at home’, Clara was 10 years old and at school. A  grandson Thomas L Peters was also listed on this census return, he was 4 years old.

The military records on www.ancestry.co.uk for Meshack consist of a listing in  ‘UK Soldiers died in the great war’ were we learn that he had been born in Hope Flintshire, was residing in Wrexham and  joined up with the colours in Caergwrle Denbigh.  Curiously he was listed as a private in the 11th battalion RWF.  However in his medal index card he was listed as being a Corporal and a Lance Corporal. It also shows that his entry into war was on the on 27th September 1915 in France. He received all three WW1 medals.

A Flintshire Record Office card shows he was also  awarded the Military Medal for gallant conduct on 2 and 3rd March 1916. (This is confirmed on a list on Ancestry –   UK British Army Recipients of The Military Medal 1914-20).  The index card in the Flintshire Record Office says he was demobilised.

Obviously he must have returned to active service as he is listed as died in Salonika Greece on 7th September 1918 as part of the 11th battalion RWF and is buried in Karasouli Military Cemetery. Many of the soldiers buried  actually died of malaria rather than wounds and it is possible with Meshack that this is the case as he is listed as died rather than died of wounds or killed in action. However…..

Post script. Some later research has revealed a tragic end to this story. The Register of Soldier’s Effects in which the army calculated what moneys were owed to deceased soldiers (now accessible on Ancestry) has a column in which they recorded the date and place of death. In this column for Meshack Peters  is written..

7/9/18 Salonika (Self inflicted).

The register also tells us that Meshack’s father, Edward received £40 .. 2sh .. 5d in outstanding money owed.

A pension index card for Corporal Menshick confirms that he died of wounds – self inflicted.  His Mother was awarded a small pension.

How very sad.

Meshack Peters is also named on the Hope and Llanfynydd/ Ffrith memorials

 


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