More about James Meechan

James Meechan enrolled in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve for service in the Royal Naval Division in December 1915 and listed as his next of kin as Mary Phee of 36 Hilltown, Dundee. He was called forward for initial training and reported to the Blandford Camp in June 1916. On completion, he was drafted to the Drake Battalion in France in November and, after a spell at the RND Base Depot, joined the battalion on 12 December 1916. The Royal Naval Division mounted an offensive on the Puisieux and River Trenches in early February 1917 and James Meechan was listed as missing on 7 February. His body was found in March by 2Lt J E Young, 19th Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery and buried between Beaucourt and Miraumont. Later, James Meechan was re-interred in the Queen’s Cemetery, Bucquaoy Farm Grave reference 1 J 1. He was 16 years old at the time of his death although he gave his year of birth as 1890 when he volunteered.