FOUND, Neal
| Service Number: | 5689 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 13 March 1916, Horsham, Victoria |
| Last Rank: | Lance Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 39th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Goyura, Victoria, Australia, September 1892 |
| Home Town: | Goyura, Yarriambiack, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Goyura State School, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation: | Farm labourer |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Belgium, 12 October 1917 |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Menin Gate Memorial (Commonwealth Memorial to the Missing of the Ypres Salient) |
World War 1 Service
| 13 Mar 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 5689, Horsham, Victoria | |
|---|---|---|
| 3 Jul 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 5689, 6th Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '8' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Ayrshire embarkation_ship_number: A33 public_note: '' | |
| 3 Jul 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 5689, 6th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ayrshire, Melbourne | |
| 12 Oct 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 5689, 39th Infantry Battalion, 1st Passchendaele, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 5689 awm_unit: 39th Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Lance Corporal awm_died_date: 1917-10-12 |
Neal Found
Neal was born in 1892, the fifth successive son of John Found and Mary (nee Dick).
In his early 20's Neal married Isabella Goodrem and they had a son and daugther before he joined up.
Neal enlisted at Horsham on the 13th March 1916 and was assigned to the 16th Battalion, 18th Reinforcements. An older brother Albert Edward (s/n 1109) had enlisted in July 1915)
His older brother Lawrence (no. 1827), enlisted a few months later on 6 May
Neal's unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A33 Ayrshire on 3 July 1916
Neal was promoted to Lance Corporal some months before being killed in action on 12 October 1917
His body was not recovered and his memory is marked on the Menin Gate Memorial at Ypres, panel 25. His family at home felt his loss with great distress.
Hamilton Spectator (10, 17 & 27/11/1917 & 12/10/1918)
"FOUND – Killed in France on October 12, 1917, Pte Neal, youngest son of Mrs. J. Found, Cavendish, aged 25. He has a wife and 2 children. A brother died of would a week before. Their brother, Pte. A.E., is on active service. He has sisters."
Ref: Hamilton Spectator (10/11/1917 page 6)
"Our Cavendish correspondence write: Mrs. J. [Jane] Found, of this town, has been advised by the Defence department that her youngest son, Private Neal Found, was killed in action in France on 2nd October. Private Found, who was in the Lewis Gun section had been on active service for nearly two years. He was married and leaves a wife and two children. He was 25 years of age. It has been just a week ago that Mrs. Found had been advised of the death from gunshot wounds of an elder son, whilst a third son, Private AE Found has just resumed duty in the Light Horse after having been ill with heart trouble."
Hamilton Spectator (12/10/1918 page 6)
"Found – In loving memory of my dear sons, Lance-Corporal Neal Found, killed in action somewhere in France 12th October 1917 aged 25 years: also his much loved brother, Private Lawrence (Lawrie) Found, 39th Battalion, Lewis Gun section, wounded on the 12th October 1917, died of wounds received in France 23rd October, aged 28 years.
Could I, their mother, have clasped
their hands,
The sons I loved so well
To kiss their brow when death was near
And whisper, dear boys, farewell.
Sadly we are thinking
Of our soldier brothers so brave,
Who fought for the cause of Freedom,
Who lie now in heroes’ graves.
Inserted by their loving mother, sisters and brothers"
Submitted 5 March 2016 by John McKay
Biography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Lance Corporal Neal Found 39th Battalion AIF, a 23 year old farmer from Goyura Victoria, was killed in action in Belgium on the 12 October 1917. A widowed wife and two small children were left in Victoria to grieve him. His older brother, Private Lawrence Found, of the same battalion, was wounded during the action in which Neal was killed. Lawrence suffered a gunshot wound to the head, which caused a depressed fracture to his skull. Gravely ill, he passed away 11 days after his brother, on the 23 October 1917. Neal has no known grave, his name is remembered on the Menin Gate Memorial and Lawrence is buried in the St Sever Cemetery Extension at Rouen in France. A third and older brother, Private Albert Found, 8th Light Horse Regiment, married with two children, was returned to Australia a month after the death of his brothers, suffering from debility and heart trouble.
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