NEALL, Albert Edward
| Service Numbers: | 2747, 2747B |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 26 July 1915, Adelaide, South Australia |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 10th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Mount Lofty, South Australia, January 1890 |
| Home Town: | Adelaide, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Belgium, 8 October 1917 |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" |
| Memorials: | Adelaide National War Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Menin Gate Memorial (Commonwealth Memorial to the Missing of the Ypres Salient) |
World War 1 Service
| 26 Jul 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2747, 10th Infantry Battalion, Adelaide, South Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 27 Oct 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2747, 27th Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '15' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Benalla embarkation_ship_number: A24 public_note: '' | |
| 27 Oct 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 2747, 27th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Benalla, Adelaide | |
| 28 Feb 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 10th Infantry Battalion | |
| 22 Aug 1916: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 2747, 10th Infantry Battalion, Battle for Pozières , Shell shock | |
| 20 Apr 1917: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 2747, 10th Infantry Battalion, Was diagnosed with nephritis which later turned into Myalgia | |
| 8 Oct 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2747B, 10th Infantry Battalion, Third Ypres, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 2747B awm_unit: 10 Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1917-10-08 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Saint Ignatius' College
Albert Edward Neall
In January 1890, Albert Edward Neall was brought into the world by his loving mother and father, Mrs. and Mr. W. Neall. Despite being born near the “town” of Mt Lofty, Neall grew up on Mann Street, Brompton, with his parents and brother Neil. Neall was born into a family of Methodists and he continued his childhood-taught practices and beliefs (which are similar to that of Orthodox Christians) until his death. Neall proceeded to become a labourer, which was a common occupation during his time.
When the time was right, Mrs. Neall’s handsome, fair son, with his brown hair and brown eyes, married Gertrude Louisa. The newly-weds moved to 9 Hanley Street, Adelaide where they bore a child. The child was named Kenneth Albert Neall in honour of his father. Unfortunately, Kenneth was born just before WWI, meaning that the two were unable to spend much time together due to his father's expected enlistment.
On the 26th of July 1915, Neall enlisted for war, aged 25 and 6 months. His contracted ‘terms of service’ were to last the duration of the war plus four extra months. His perfect vision, height (179cm) and weight (74kg) placed him into the 27th Battalion, 6th reinforcement. As a private, Neall would become officially known as 2747B. The 27th Battalion was formed in 1915 as part of the first AIF serving in WWI. Before leaving for war, Neall received vaccines for small pox and enteric fever.
On the 27th of October 1915, Neall, boarded the HMAT A24 Benalla. The boat departed from Adelaide and headed to Port Suez, Egypt. Here the men underwent 2 months of training prior to departing for Gallipoli. As an infantry soldier Neall carried a rifle. On the 2nd of February 1916 until the 10th of February, Neall was admitted with dental pains to the hospital at Heliopolis, Cairo. On the 11th of February Neall was discharged to his unit.
On the 27th of February 1916, Neall joined the 10th Infantry Battalion in Serapeum, Egypt. He was selected as a reinforcement from the 27th Battalion because of his physical strength. Furthermore, Neall joined the British Expeditionary Force in Alexandria and disembarked with them in Marseilles, France. During his 15 months in France, he was admitted twice with shell shock; his wounds treated in both a hospital and causality clearing station. Neall was also admitted to hospital with nephritis and myalgia. Nephritis is the inflammation of the kidneys, that when treated immediately, such as in Neall’s case, lasts for a minimum of one week. Myalgia is the pain caused in a muscle or group of muscles, which if untreated can cause a variety of disorders. Therefore, Neall was immediately admitted to a casualty clearing station and later a general hospital to be treated. Through the Nephritis and Myalgia illness, Neall missed three months of battle. It is highly likely that during Neall’s time in France he participated in the battles of Polygon Wood and Broodseinde. Neall continued on leave to the UK on the 13th of August 1917. Unfortunately, this was short lived as Neall returned on the 26th of the same month.
In the evening on the 8th of October 1917, the 10th battalion was in support at Passchendaele, Belgium, when a shell collided with Neall’s head, around 2200 hours. According to commanding officer, Reid, who saw Neall blown up 50 yards away from him and Neall’s friend F.E. McGair, who also saw Neall blown up only 10 yards away from him, Neall’s death was instantaneous. Neall was buried where he fell on the ANZAC ridge of the Ypres Salient. Furthermore, two wooden biscuit boxes were arranged to form a cross, upon which Neall’s name was engraved using a bayonet. Neall’s effects of a disc, 2 purses, letters, diary, pocket book, gift tin, testament, pipe and a pair of spurs were gathered and sent home to his wife and son. News spread to his parents and older brother, who placed an advertisement into “The Adelaide Chronicle” the 1st of December’s edition. The article was as follows:
Neall – Killed in action, October 8. No. 2747, Private A.E. Neall, 10th Battalion, youngest dearly loved son of Mrs. and Mr. W. Neall, Mannstreet, Brompton. All that it meant to love you only our sad hearts know. – Inserted by his loving brother and sister-in-law, Erin and Neil.
Ref. The Adelaide chronicle, December 1 1917 n.d., accessed 19 March 2019, <https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/87414888/8609376>.
Later Neall’s name was engraved into the Menin Gate Memorial, panel 17, letters L-Q. For his service to the country Neall received a 1914-15 star, a British war medal and Victory medal.
ANZAC qualities displayed
Being an ANZAC, (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) meant that a certain set of values and spirit was expected from the soldiers/servicepersons. These values included mateship, courage, endurance, patriotism, ingenuity and good humour. The ANZAC spirit captures the idea of Australian and New Zealand troops ‘national character’ throughout the Gallipoli campaign. This campaign saw that troops not only fought for their newly federated country, but also died for it. This nationalistic spirit was felt in every soldier, as this campaign was the first time that Australia and New Zealand were able to prove themselves as bourgeoning nations.
Albert Neall showed patriotism and courage for his country by enlisting for war, receiving injuries in battle and then finally dying for his country. He also showed courage and mateship by going over the trench walls with his friends during various campaigns and battles. Neall spent almost two years enduring the chaos of WWI. This involved fighting amongst the mud, repelling the rats and finding ways to overcome the boredom. He also showed values of ingenuity through his decisions to go to hospital from the disease nephritis and myalgia, so that he could survive and return to fighting the enemy in his best physical condition. Through the possession of these qualities Neall epitomises the perfect WWI soldier.
Bibliography
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(ref. AIF-Nominal Roll -Continued n.d., accessed 23 March 2019, <https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/awm-media/collection/RCDIG1067585/large/5373301.JPG>.)
The corduroy track across Anzac Ridge, in the Ypres sector, lined with mangled horses and broken... n.d., accessed 23 March 2019, <https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C398670>.
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