MEADOWS Reginald Frederick Cyril

HMS Indefatigable was a battlecruiser commissioned in February 1911. On 31st May 1916 she engaged with the German battlecruiser Von der Tann at the Battle of Jutland. She was hit by several shells fired from the German ship causing two major explosions. The ship sank rapidly taking 1,015 men with her, only 2 of her crew members surviving the attack.

The following research is courtesy of the researcher of the casualties on the Blockley War Memorials:
Reginald Meadows was born in Draycott on 8th July 1894 and baptised in Blockley on 26th August 1894. His father was a farm labourer. Reginald was at home with his family in 1901, and in 1910. At the age of 15, when he was working as an errand boy, he joined the Royal Navy as a boy sailor. During the next two years he had a number of short postings to ships and shore establishments, a boy sailor throughout:
Impregnable, Boy II, service from 18th April 1910
Leviathon, Boy I, 25th October 1910 – 21st November 1911
Albemarle, Boy I, 13th February 1911 to 16th March 1911
Beswick, Boy I, 17th March 1911 to 15th May 1911
Vivid 1, Boy I, 16th May 1911 to 26th May 1911
Doris, Boy I, 27th May 1911 to 14th February 1912
King Alfred, Boy I, 15th February 1912 to 27th February 1912

In March 1912 Reginald joined HMS Indefatigable, a comparatively new battle cruiser laid down in 1909 and commissioned in 1911. On his eighteenth birthday in July 1912 he signed on for a period of 12 years service, as an ordinary seaman, giving his date of birth as 8th July 1894 at Blockley, Worcestershire. He was 5 feet 5 inches tall with brown hair, grey eyes and a fresh complexion. In May 1914 he was promoted to Able Seaman. Throughout his service he was given a Very Good character marking. He lost his life when the Indefatigable was sunk at the battle of Jutland in May 1916.

From the Royal Navy War Graves Roll:
Reginald Frank Cyril Meadows
born 8/7/1894, Blockley
rank AB
branch Royal Navy
Official number port/division J.8169 (Dev)
Body not recovered for burial
Father Charles H, Draycott, Blockley, Worcestershire

The birth of Reginald Frederick C. Meadows is registered in the September Quarter 1894 under the Shipston Registration District.

Reginald Meadows has no known grave, the photograph available shows his name on Plymouth Naval Memorial.