Harold Meats was born in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire on 20 September 1892, the third son of Albert Meats and Susan Emily Meats (née Griffiths). His mother died when he was four months old, and his father was remarried to Louise Tempest Meats (née Ford). Harold Meats served a four-year merchant seaman apprenticeship in the SS ROCHDALE from 24 April 1907 to 24 April 1911. After a further voyage in SS ROCHDALE as Third Mate, he then served in SS HAMPTON, SS CORFE CASTLE, and SS WALMER CASTLE.

He joined the Royal Naval Reserve as a Temporary Sub Lieutenant, RNR on 15 March 1915 serving in the yacht SABRINA between 15 March and 31 July 1915. He then joined submarines on 1 August 1915 and was appointed to HMS E30 as Navigating Officer. E30 was presumed to have been lost with all hands in a previously unknown minefield off of Orford Ness on 22 November 1916.

Harold Meats was the husband of Rosie Tempest Meats (née Ford). He is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval War Memorial on Panel No 22 and on the South African Roll of Honour.