“Loved to Serve”

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 167, 16 July 1937, Page 11

“Loved to Serve”

DEATH REVEALS SECRET With the death at his lodgings in Newcastle-on-Tyne of a 54-ycar-old commissionaire, an amazing story of how a man of wealth preferred to servo iu tho Army as a ranker and as a commissionaire for 12 years, was revealed. Thomas Meikle, brother of Colonel James Meikle, D. 5.0., of Brankstono, Fife, a member of tho King’s Bodyguard for Scotland, and of Mr Law rcnco Avondale Meikle, of Barrhead, was tho sou of a wealthy brewer and had a private income, but he "loved to serve.” At first it was believed that the dead man had no relatives, and arrangements were made by the Corps of Commissionaires for tho funeral. Major W. Myers, local commandant of the commissionaires, however, discovered a letter among his possessions which brought tho truth to light. Colonel Meikle, telling the story of his brother, explained that tho dead man benefited considerably under their father’s will. * "He enjoyed serving, and was always frugal in his habits, and it was no surprise when, in 1904, he joined the Dur- | ham Light Infantry as a private. He served until 1920. "It must have been his love of serving and his remarkable loyalty which mado him join tho commissionaires. * i | I