Name
George Edward Neale
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
06/11/1918
23
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Serjeant
10052
Bedfordshire Regiment
'D' Coy., 1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star, British War and Victory Medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
CROSS ROADS CEMETERY, FONTAINE-AU-BOIS
Plot III, Row C, Grave 5.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour, Bushey Memorial, Clay Hill, St James’ Church Memorial, Bushey, St Paul's Church Memorial, Bushey
Pre War
Born in Watford on 24 October 1895 and baptised on 24 March 1897 at St John the Evangelist, Kensal Green, Westminster, George Edward Neale was the son of Richard William and Mary Eliza (nee Clements) Neale. His parents were married on 30 August 1891 at St John’s, Kensal Green, London and they had eight children, two of whom died in childhood. Mary died in 1948, aged 80, and Richard died in 1949, aged 80, both in the Watford registration district.
At the 1901 Census, George was 5 years old and living at 112 Estcourt Road in Watford with his parents and two brothers. His father is 31 years old and working as a foreman at a builders’ merchants. His mother, elder brother, William, and younger brother, Harry, are 33, 9 and 3 years old respectively. The birthplaces are given as Leavesden in Hertfordshire for Richard, Southall in Middlesex for both Mary and William and Watford in Hertfordshire for both George and Harry. Also present are two boarders, Samuel Parke and John Walker, who are both coal carters.
George initially attended school at Sotheron Road Infants in Watford, and then at Callowland Board School in Watford, between 6 February 1902 and 12 January 1906 before finally attending Boxmoor J.M.I. between 17 January 1906 and 23 October 1908.
By the time of the 1911 Census, the family had moved to 1 Asylum Road in Watford. His father was now working as a labourer in a brewery and George is a shop boy in wool stores. William is no longer present, but George now has four younger siblings, Harry, Phoebe Rose V, Albert Edward and Olive Alexandra, who are 13, 9, 6 and 2 years old respectively. Watford is given as the birthplace for all the children, apart from Olive, who was born in Boxmoor.
Wartime Service
George enlisted in Hertford at the outbreak of war and served as Sergeant 10052 in D Company of the 1st Battalion of the Bedfordshire Regiment. He died, aged 23, on 6 November 1918 due to wounds received in action.
He is remembered with honour at Cross Road Cemetery, Fountaine-Au-Bois in France, grave reference III. C. 5. The inscription on his gravestone reads “HE GAVE HIS LIFE THAT WE MIGHT LIVE FROM MOTHER AND ALL”
He is also commemorated on the Bushey Memorial, at St James’ Parish Church and at St Paul’s. He was entitled to the Victory, British War and 1914 Star medals, his qualifying date being 16 August 1914. He is recorded as Neale G W in the Borough Roll of Honour for Watford.
The Army Register of Soldiers’ Effects names his brother Albert E as the sole recipient of his effects. His pension card is a joint record with his brother Harry, who also served with the Bedfordshire Regiment and was killed on 11 January 1918, and names Mary as his dependant with an address of The Pines, 6 Vale Road, Bushey. There is also a separate record naming Miss Ada Annie Lumm of 22 Chapmans Yard.
Additional Information
Dianne Payne - www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk, Jonty Wild, Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk) After his death he was recorded as the son of Richard William and Mary Elizabeth Neale, of 6, Vale Rd., Bushey, Herts. Unfortunately, George’s Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing.
Acknowledgments
Andrew Palmer
Dianne Payne - www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk, Jonty Wild, Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
