Shrapnel damaged mug : Lieutenant Colonel J B H Meredith, 1st Light Horse Regiment, AIF

White enamelled metal mug showing shrapnel damage. The metal has been pierced in two places: the entry point at the middle-left of the handle and the exit point at the opposite bottom right.

Shellfire was a continual hazard at Gallipoli. This shrapnel damaged mug was used by Lieutenant Colonel John Baldwin Hoystead Meredith during his service there.

Meredith was born was born on 11 November 1864 at Derrylough, Rosenallis, Queens Country, Ireland. In 1982-87 he studied medicine and after migrating to Australia in 1888, he bought a practice at Raymond Terrace, New South Wales.

Meredith joined the Hunter River Light Horse and volunteered for the Boer War. He served as medical officer in the Citizen’s Bushmen’s Contingent in 1900 in Rhodesia, the Transvaal, Orange River Colony, Cape Colony and at the relief of Mafeking. In 1905, as second Lieutenant, he formed a troop of light horse at Raymond Terrace, part of the 4th Light Horse Regiment. He was promoted Lieutenant-Colonel in 1911 and commanded the 6th Light Horse Regiment in 1912.

On the outbreak of the First World War, Meredith joined the Australian Imperial Force on 28 August 1914 in command of the 1st Light Horse Regiment. He served on Gallipoli from 22 August 1915 until the evacuation on 19-20 December 1915. In November of that year he was made temporary Commander of the 1st Light Horse Brigade.

In mid-January 1916, Meredith commanded the Brigade in the Sinai Desert and was in command during the battle of Romani. In February 1917 he formed the 4th Australian Light Horse Brigade. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order in December 1916 and the Order of the White Eagle (Serbia) in February 1917. He was promoted Colonel and temporary Brigadier General in May 1917. His appointment in the Australian Imperial Force ended on 3 January 1918.