Pte
Henry Leonard Neville
Information about birth
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Year of birth: 1880 |
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Place of birth: Eccles, Aylesford, Maidstone, Kent, England, United Kingdom |
General information
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Last known residence: Eccles, Aylesford, Maidstone, Kent, England, United Kingdom |
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Profession: Bricklayer |
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Religion: Church of England |
Army information
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Country: England, United Kingdom |
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Force: British Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Private |
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Service number: G/40443 |
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Enlistment date: 12/12/1915 |
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Enlistment place: Maidstone, Kent, England, United Kingdom |
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Units: — The Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment), 2nd Bn. (Last known unit) — Royal Sussex Regiment |
Information about death
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Date of death: 16/08/1917 |
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Place of death: Sans Souci, Zonnebeke, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 37 |
Memorial
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Tyne Cot Memorial Panel: 114 |
Distinctions and medals 2
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 4
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Last known residence | ||
| #3 | Enlistment place | ||
| #4 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Henry Leonard Neville was born in 1880 in Eccles, Aylesford, near Maidstone in Kent, where he was to live all his life. He worked as a bricklayer and on 18 April 1908 married Alice Savage with whom he had six children. On 12 December 1915, he enlisted in the Royal Sussex Regiment under service number G/12654 and on 28 September 1916 he was transferred to the 2nd Battalion Middlesex Regiment (The Duke of Cambridge's Own), which was part of the 23rd Brigade of the 8th Division. He was given the new service number G/40443.
On the night of 15 August 1917, he left for the front at Westhoek Ridge. The 8th Division attacked on 16 August 1917 at 04.45 (zero hour) towards Zonnebeke, a battle that would later become known as the Battle of Langemark, part of the Battle of Passchendaele. The 23rd Brigade advanced south of the Ypres-Roulers railway line with the 25th Brigade on their right flank and the 16th Division to the left of the railway line. The artillery laid down a barrage and the troops followed closely. A German barrage did not stop the advance, despite heavy losses. The 2nd Middlesex, advancing along the railway line, came under fire from the railway embankment and from Potsdam at a hedge line near Sans Souci. The battalion was held up and could not advance beyond the aforementioned enclosure. As the progress of both the 16th Division on the left and the 56th Division on the right had stopped, the 8th Division came under heavy fire from both flanks. In danger of being cut off, both the 23rd and 25th Brigades had to withdraw to their original positions. The 2nd Middlesex withdrew to a line at Sexton House. It was relieved by the 2nd Scottish Rifles on the night of 16-17 August.
During the fighting on 16 August, the battalion lost eight officers and 11 men and suffered 151 casualties, 23 men were missing. Henry Leonard Neville was killed at the age of 37. To this day, he has no known grave. Henry is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, panel 114.
On the night of 15 August 1917, he left for the front at Westhoek Ridge. The 8th Division attacked on 16 August 1917 at 04.45 (zero hour) towards Zonnebeke, a battle that would later become known as the Battle of Langemark, part of the Battle of Passchendaele. The 23rd Brigade advanced south of the Ypres-Roulers railway line with the 25th Brigade on their right flank and the 16th Division to the left of the railway line. The artillery laid down a barrage and the troops followed closely. A German barrage did not stop the advance, despite heavy losses. The 2nd Middlesex, advancing along the railway line, came under fire from the railway embankment and from Potsdam at a hedge line near Sans Souci. The battalion was held up and could not advance beyond the aforementioned enclosure. As the progress of both the 16th Division on the left and the 56th Division on the right had stopped, the 8th Division came under heavy fire from both flanks. In danger of being cut off, both the 23rd and 25th Brigades had to withdraw to their original positions. The 2nd Middlesex withdrew to a line at Sexton House. It was relieved by the 2nd Scottish Rifles on the night of 16-17 August.
During the fighting on 16 August, the battalion lost eight officers and 11 men and suffered 151 casualties, 23 men were missing. Henry Leonard Neville was killed at the age of 37. To this day, he has no known grave. Henry is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, panel 114.
Sources 11
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2 Battalion Middlesex Regiment (The National Archives, KEW (TNA), WO 95/1713/1_2). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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British Army World War I Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920 (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), WO 372). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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Census Returns of England and Wales, 1881 (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), RG11). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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Census Returns of England and Wales, 1891 (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), RG12). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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Census Returns of England and Wales, 1901 (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), RG13). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911 (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), RG14). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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McCarthy Chris., Passchendaele. The Day-by-Day Account (London, Unicorn Publishing Group, 2018), 50-52 Sources used |
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Soldier' Effects Records (Nationa Army Museum, Chelsea (NAM) 1901-60; NAM Accession Number: 1991-02-333). https://www.nam.ac.uk/ Sources used |
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UK, World War I Service Medal and Awards Rolls, 1914-1920(The National Archives, Kew (TNA), WO 329). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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War Office: Soldiers' Documents (The National Archives, Kew (TNA) WO363). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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Wyrall E., The Die-Hards in the Great War, Vol II 1916-1919, (London, Harrison & sons, 45 St. Martin's Lane, W.C.2, NN), 116-117. Sources used |
More information 3
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/832067 |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/3224247 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=0cb2fde0-7459-4fea-8e9c-b2806a39f63d |