William Meldrum

Brigadier General William Meldrum (28 July 1865 – 13 February 1964) was a New Zealand lawyer, farmer, military leader, magistrate and local politician.

Born in the Northland region of New Zealand in 1865, Meldrum studied law after completing his schooling. A talented sportsman, he played representative rugby and cricket for Auckland. He was a barrister and solicitor practicing in Auckland initially before moving south to the Rangitikei District. He continued to work in the legal profession but also took up farming and was involved in local body politics. He was also prominent in the local militia, establishing a unit of mounted rifle volunteers. During the First World War, he volunteered for service with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force and commanded the Wellington Mounted Rifles Regiment during the Gallipoli campaign and the Sinai and Palestine Campaign. By late 1917, he was a brigadier-general and commander of the New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade. Returning to New Zealand after the war, he resumed practicing law. He later moved to Greymouth where he became the local magistrate and also served as the town's mayor. He died at Burnham Camp in 1964 at age of 98.

Early life Born in the Whangārei suburb of Kamo in New Zealand, Meldrum was the son of a farmer and his wife. As well as attending Kamo School, he was educated in Scotland. After completing his schooling at Auckland College and Grammar School, he studied law at Auckland University College. He participated in sports, representing Auckland in rugby in 1886 and also in four first-class cricket matches between 1884 and 1887. He played chess to a high standard and would be the New Zealand Chess Champion in 1896. They were to have one son and one daughter. Their son, Alexander Francis Meldrum, was a Rhodes Scholar in law in 1917.

Meldrum was prominent in local affairs, being on the Hunterville Town Board for a period In 1912, he sold his practice and from the profits bought land in the area which he farmed together with his wife, Nora, who he had married in 1894. The couple had two children. His nephew, Maurice Dodson, was later Chief of Army.