NEATE, Edwin Ambrose
| Service Numbers: | 1619, V363728 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 15 July 1915, Prior to enlistment, served for two years in Vic. Rifles |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 3rd Pioneer Battalion |
| Born: | Manly, New South Wales, Australia, 17 October 1892 |
| Home Town: | Hawthorn, Boroondara, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | engine driver |
| Died: | Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia, 11 June 1970, aged 77 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 15 Jul 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, 1619, 3rd Pioneer Battalion, Prior to enlistment, served for two years in Vic. Rifles | |
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| 6 Jun 1916: | Involvement Private, 1619, 3rd Pioneer Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '5' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Wandilla embarkation_ship_number: A62 public_note: '' | |
| 6 Jun 1916: | Embarked Private, 1619, 3rd Pioneer Battalion, HMAT Wandilla, Melbourne | |
| 12 Jun 1919: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 1619, 3rd Pioneer Battalion, Returned to Australia via "Themistocles", departing England 12 June, 1919. | |
| 22 Sep 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 3rd Pioneer Battalion |
World War 2 Service
| 23 Mar 1942: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, V363728 |
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Help us honour Edwin Ambrose Neate's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Linda Neate
Edwin Ambrose Neate, known as Ted, was born in Manly, NSW, the first son in a family of ten children. By early 1897, the family had moved to Richmond. Ted's father, Henry Thomas Neate, had migrated with his parents from the UK in 1852, with the family nucleus settled in the Collingwood/Abbotsford/Richmond area.
Ted's mother, Amelia nee Herzog, was born in Germany, and her family emigrated via Maryborough, Queensland in 1870, then moved to Sydney.
Ted was a highly talented athlete, a member of the Carlton Harriers athletics club, a record holder for some years of the Four Mile long distance running event and a Victorian representative in interstate championships. The newspaper sports sections regularly featured athletics meets, championships and results, in which Ted, either as Ted Neate, or as E.A. Neate, was a popular, prominent achiever in various long distance running events, including Three Mile, Four Mile, Five Mile and Ten Mile events.
When Ted set the record for the Four Mile event in July 1911, he was one of 138 registrants. The race was on the "Keilor road, starting from the Lincolnshire Arms Hotel", two miles out and return, with a large attendance , "especially the ladies". Ted won "easily", with the "judgment of a veteran", and was predicted to be an upcoming "champion". His motto was reported as "Never say die".
In line with common practice to report renowned athletes' enlistment, as encouragement to "fight for King and country", the enlistment of Ted and his mate Cliff Manley, both of the Carlton Harriers Athletics Club was announced in the newspapers. Regular news of their active service whereabouts were further reported, including "sports behind the lines" meets, cross-country races and who was "out of condition" and "carrying weight".
Ted married Katherine Myrtle Seymour shortly before leaving for active service. Following his return to Australia, Ted was reunited with his wife and met his daughter Nancy for the first time, who was born after Ted embarked for duties in Europe. In 1921, Ted returned to his athletic interests, working on regaining his pre-service weight and fitness, and he continued to make his mark in cross country and long distance running events. An engine driver, the family settled in Camberwell, adding another daughter and a son to their family.