Alexander Mee

The original documents of Alexander Mee's story were on display at Archives New Zealand Dunedin Regional Office as part of the exhibition 'Readiness and Sacrifice'.

The exhibition featured archives that show the contributions of the Otago Medical School, Dunedin Hospital and Kempthorne Prosser Ltd in fitting out the first Hospital Ship - SS Maheno - the appeal by the Dunedin Fire Brigade to the Otago Military Service Board for firemen to be exempt from military service (even though many firemen from the Dunedin Fire Brigade did serve) and official condolence letters and telegrams received by individual families, which are included in soldiers' probate files. The exhibition opened on Tuesday 22 September and closed on Wednesday 24 December 2014.

Alexander Mee

These albums document the World War I Service of Private Alexander Mee - 42532, 14th Company, 2nd Battalion, Otago Infantry Regiment, New Zealand Expeditionary Force - through digital images of his service and probate files (his will and the Dunedin Supreme Court documents granting probate), war diary and the letters to his wife, Jessie. The letters and war diary form part of his Probate file.

Alexander was a farmer at Kuri Bush, south of Brighton, near Dunedin and the son of Samuel and Margaret Mee, also of Kuri Bush. He was born on 15 April 1886. Jessie Merrilees Coutts, born 11 April 1890, was the third child of William and Jane Coutts (Nee Merrilees) of Taieri Beach. Jessie Coutts and Alexander were married on 27 February 1917. Their son, Alexander Coutts Mee, was born on 20 November 1917.

Alexander enlisted on 2 November 1916, and embarked at Wellington on 5 April 1917 on the Devon troopship destined for Devonport, England. He was marched into Sling Camp on 11 June 1917, left for France on 6 July 1917 and joined the Battalion in the field on 9 August 1917. He notes in his diary, the dates he went into the firing line: Friday 28 September 1917 (probably at the Battle of Polygon Wood) and Wednesday 10 October 1917 (Battle of Passchendaele).

The finding of the Court of Enquiry was 'Missing Believed Killed' in action on 12 October 1917, at Belle Vue Spur at the Battle of Passchendaele.

From his Service File History Sheet: '8/1456 Cpl G Drummond (14 Coy. 2nd Bn. O. R.) I saw Mee at the assembly point prior to the advance on Bell Vue Spur. 12th October 1917. There was a heavy barrage, on our line. At the [?] & many casualties. He did not come with Coy.'

Alexander is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Tyne Cot Cemetery, Zonnebeke, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium – New Zealand Apse, Panel 3. At the time of his death he was in the 14th Company, 2nd Battalion, Otago Infantry Regiment.

For The Empire's Cause – In Memoriam

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17444, 12 October 1918, Page 8

MEE – In fond and loving memory of our dear comrade, Private Alick Mee (24th Reinforcements), who was killed at Passchendaele Ridge on October 12, 1917.

Ever remembered

Inserted by G. and S. Maxwell.

MEE – In fond and loving memory of my dear husband, Alexander Mee, who was killed in action on October 12, 1917.

For our footsteps he is waiting
Over on the Other Side.

Inserted by his wife and child.

MEE – In loving memory of Private Alexander Mee (No. 42532, 24th Reinforcements), who was killed at Passchendaele on October 12, 1917, second son of Mrs M. Mee, Erin Hill, Kuri Bush; aged 31 years.

Thy will be done. There is a link death cannot sever:
Sweet remembrance lasts for ever.

Inserted by his loving mother, sisters, and brother.

Relevant links

ANZAC Letters - Listen to Blair Irvin, Alexander Mee's great great nephew, reading some of Alexander Mee's letters

Auckland Museum Cenotaph Database - Alexander Mee

Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database - Alexander Mee

Alexander Mee's Service File on Archway

New Zealand War Graves Trust - Alexander Mee

WW100 New Zealand