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John Meredith
John Baldwin Hoystead Meredith.jpg
Born (1864-11-11)11 November 1864
Derrylough, Queen's County, Ireland
Died 1 January 1942(1942-01-01) (aged 77)
Maitland, New South Wales, Australia
Allegiance Australia
Service/branch Citizens Military Force
Years of service 1899–1923
Rank Brigadier General
Commands held 2nd Cavalry Brigade (1921–23)
4th Light Horse Brigade (1917)
1st Light Horse Regiment (1914–17)
6th Light Horse Regiment (1912–14)
4th Light Horse Regiment (1910–12)
Battles/wars Second Boer War
First World War
Awards Distinguished Service Order
Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers' Decoration
Mentioned in Despatches
Officer of the Order of the White Eagle (Serbia)
Relations Sir Iven Mackay (son-in-law)

John Baldwin Hoystead Meredith (born 11 November 1864 – died 1 January 1942) was an Australian doctor and a high-ranking officer. He served in the Australian Imperial Force during the First World War. He reached the rank of Brigadier General.

Early Life and Military Start

John Baldwin Hoystead Meredith was born in Ireland on 11 November 1864. He was the seventh child of William and Anne Meredith. He went to Arlington College.

John wanted to join the army, but he couldn't afford it. So, he decided to study medicine in Dublin from 1882 to 1887. In 1888, he became a qualified doctor.

He then moved to Australia in 1888. He bought a doctor's office in Raymond Terrace, New South Wales. This office was called "The Bungalow." His fiancée, Harriett Eveline Waters, joined him two years later. They got married on 20 May 1890 in Sydney. They had three children together.

Meredith became a government doctor. He also joined a local army group called the Hunter River Light Horse.

Serving in South Africa

In 1899, John volunteered to serve in the Second Boer War in South Africa. He worked as a medical officer there.

After returning, he continued his military career. In 1905, he formed a new group of light horse soldiers. This group became part of the 4th Light Horse Regiment. He was promoted to captain in 1906 and major in 1908.

In 1908, he took his family to England and Ireland. He trained with the 18th Hussars in Ireland. When he came back to Australia in 1910, he took charge of the 4th Light Horse Regiment. In 1912, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel. He then commanded the 6th Light Horse Regiment.

On 4 September 1914, his daughter Marjorie married Captain Iven Mackay.

World War I Service

On 28 August 1914, Meredith joined the Australian Imperial Force. He became the commander of the 1st Light Horse Regiment. He served with his regiment at Gallipoli from August 1915 until the soldiers left the area.

Dr Meredith
A portrait of Dr. Meredith during his service.

Battles in Egypt

The 1st Light Horse Regiment arrived in Alexandria, Egypt, in December 1915. In January 1916, they were sent to defend Sudan against the Senussi.

In May, Meredith took over command of the 1st Light Horse Brigade. He led the brigade at the Battle of Romani in August 1916. His soldiers bravely fought off many Turkish attacks. For his actions in this battle, Meredith received the Distinguished Service Order (DSO). He also received the Serbian Officer of the Order of the White Eagle in February 1917.

Dr Meredith centre
Dr. Meredith (center) with fellow officers.

In September 1916, Meredith went back to Australia for a short break. He returned to Egypt in January 1917.

Leading a New Brigade

On 13 February 1917, Meredith took command of the new 4th Light Horse Brigade. He was made a temporary brigadier general. He led his brigade at the Second Battle of Gaza in April 1917.

However, just before the Battle of Beersheba in October 1917, he had to return to Australia. He left on 12 November 1917 and arrived back in Australia in December. His time with the Australian Imperial Force ended in January 1918.

Life After the War

After the war, Meredith commanded the 2nd Cavalry Brigade from 1921 to 1923. He then retired as an honorary brigadier general.

Practice of Dr Meredith
Practice of Dr Meredith in Raymond Terrace.

He continued his successful medical practice. He also started a Jersey stud farm, which is a place where special Jersey cows are bred. He became a vice-president of the Jersey Herd Society of New South Wales.

In 1919, his first wife, Harriett, passed away from influenza.

Grave of Harriett Meredith
Grave of Mrs Harriett Meredith at Beresfield Crematorium.

Two years later, on 19 October 1921, he married Alice Christina Mowbray Windeyer. She was 20 years old. They had five children together; four of them lived to adulthood.

John Meredith died at Maitland Hospital on 1 January 1942. He was survived by children from both his marriages.

Children

John Meredith had eight children from his two marriages.

From his first marriage to Harriett:

  • Marjorie Eveline Meredith (1891-1987). She married Sir Iven Giffard Mackay in 1914 and had three children.
  • Muriel Windeyer Meredith (1892-1983). She married William Hooke Mackay in 1913.
  • Dr John Baldwin Waters Meredith (1895-1956). He married Lois Cecil-Jack in 1924 and had two children.

From his second marriage to Alice:

  • Elizabeth Mowbray (1922-1922). She died very young.
  • William Archibald Meredith (1924-2004). He married Mollie Rye and had four children.
  • Neville Windeyer Meredith (1929-2010). He married Merle Irene Hulmes and had two children.
  • James Baldwin Meredith (1930-1994). He married and had two children.
  • Thomas Gordon Meredith (1939-2017). He married Merle Noelene Colley and had four children.
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