Name
William Neal/Neill (Mansell)
1890
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
06/07/1916
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
14191
Dorsetshire Regiment
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
AMARA WAR CEMETERY
XVI. H. 11.
Iraq
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Boxmoor memorials,
Not on the Hitchin memorials
Pre War
William Neal was born William Herbert Mansell, in Hitchin, Herts, in 1890, the son of Priscilla Mansell who was born in Charlton, near Hitchin. He was baptised on 17 January 1890 in Hitchin.
On the 1891 Census his mother was living in Kensington, London, and working as a General Domestic Servant. William was living with his aunt and uncle, Jesse and Kate Brown and their family at 3 West Alley, Hitchin in 1891. His mother married John Neill in 1894 in Kensington, London.
On the 1901 Census he was listed as William Mansell, aged 11, a relation, and living with John and Priscilla Neill and their children Dorothy, John and Alexander at Mayfield Cottages, Foots Cray, Chislehurst, Kent. He remained living with them in 1911 and was listed as William Mansell, nephew, living at 46 Anselm Road, Fulham, London.
His mother later lived at Norfolk Villa, 70 Muswell Hill Place, Muswell Hill, London on pension records.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Muswell Hill, London and served with the 2nd Battalion, Dorsetshire Regiment.
He was killed in action on 6 July 1916 in Mesopotamia. He has no known grave and his name is commemorated at the Amara War Cemetery, Iraq.
Additional Information
His mother received a war gratuity of £4 10s and pay owing of £3 17s 10d. Pension records exist but give no indication of the amount received.
Brother to John Mansell Neill of London Rifle Brigade (Reg. No. 304279), who died 14 April 1917.
N.B. Although SDITGW states William was born in Boxmoor, but this is incorrect and he was born in the Hitchin area of Hertfordshire. The surname Neal is also written as Neill on some records.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
