211 The Royal Canadian Legion MANITOBA & NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO COMMAND www.mbnwo.ca MEAKIN, Frank Vernon WWII Frank was born in 1924 in McConnell, located in the Municipality of Hamiota. He had four sisters and three brothers. He joined the Canadian Army in Winnipeg on February 25, 1942 and took his training in Winnipeg, Brandon and Shilo and Debert, Nova Scotia. As a member of the Royal Winnipeg Rifles, he embarked for the United Kingdom on July 19, 1942, landing on Juno Beach (Courseullessur-Mer) with the Royal Winnipeg Rifles of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division on June 6, 1944 (D-Day). He was with that regiment when they liberated Graye-sur-Mer and later on Creully. On June 8, the Second Battalion German SS commanded by Oberst Bernhardt Siebkin attacked the Royal Winnipeg Rifles position at Putoten-Bessin. The Company was surrounded and 24 RWRs and their commander, Major Fred Hodge were captured. Included in this group was Lance Corporal Frank Vernon Meakin and his brother, Corporal George Edward Meakin. The prisoners were turned over to the 12th SS Reece Battalion, taken to their headquarter at the Chateau d’Audrieu, interrogated and subsequently, in small groups, taken into the woods behind the chateau and deliberately gunned down. Meakin Lake (63 K/16) northwest of Wekusko Lake was named after him in 1973. He died on June 8, 1944, at the age of twenty, and is commemorated at Beny-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery in Calvados, France. He was the son of John and Jennie Meakin of Birnie, Manitoba and the brother of Corporal George E. Meakin. MEAKIN, George Edward WWII George was born in McConnell, Manitoba in 1921. He enlisted in the Army with the Royal Winnipeg Rifles and served overseas in the United Kingdom and in France. Both he and his brother were taken prisoners of war shortly after D-Day and executed while prisoners of war. It had been suggested that the wounds on George’s body indicated he might have jumped in front of his brother Frank to prevent him from being shot. In his final letter to his mother and sister dated May 24, 1944, he wrote: “This may be the last chance I get to write before the big day, so if you don’t hear from me for a while don’t worry.We will be OK and no matter what happens, I can always say that I have the grandest mother and sister that anyone has, so keep on smiling and everything will turn out for the best.” Meakin Lake (64 B/5) in Pemichigamau Lake was named after him in 1995. Corporal George Meakin died on June 8, 1944, at the age of 23, at Chateau d’Audrieu and is commemorated at the Beny-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery at Calvados, France. He was the son of John and Jennie Meakin of Birnie, Manitoba and the brother of Lance Corporal Frank V. Meakin.
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