NEILL, Bernard Peter
| Service Number: | 3859 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 26 July 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 32nd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Minimay, Victoria, Australia, 1890 |
| Home Town: | Minimay, West Wimmera, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | 1972, cause of death not yet discovered, place of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: | Ballarat Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial, Kowree Shire Honour Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 26 Jul 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3859, 14th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 23 Nov 1915: | Involvement Private, 3859, 14th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '11' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Ceramic embarkation_ship_number: A40 public_note: '' | |
| 23 Nov 1915: | Embarked Private, 3859, 14th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ceramic, Melbourne | |
| 2 Apr 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 32nd Infantry Battalion | |
| 20 Jul 1916: | Imprisoned Fromelles (Fleurbaix) |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Bernard Neill was captured at Fromelles on 20 July 1916, along with his brother 1547 Private Daniel Neill of the same battalion. A third brother 5447 Private James Neill 38th Battalion AIF, returned to Australia 30 April 1919.
Bernard also enlisted in July 1915, a 23-year-old labourer, and gave his sister’s address as Mary McPhee from Minimay Victoria. He embarked with the 12th reinforcements for the 14th Battalion, in November 1915, and was transferred to the 46th Battalion in March 1916 during the reorganisation of the AIF. He must have wangled a way to join his brother in the 32nd Battalion, which was a South Australian unit, and was transferred there in April 1916. He was reported missing 20 July 1916, later confirmed by the Germans as a prisoner of war. In his file Bernard stated that Lt. Campbell was in charge of his platoon at Fromelles, and that they had got into what was supposed to be the enemy second line, where a breastwork was built. They remained there until early next morning, when the enemy got round behind them and an order came down the line to go back and hunt the enemy out. He and 4 others got back to within 30 yards of their original line when they were rushed by the Germans and captured. Bernard was also forced to march to Lille. He was repatriated to England in December 1918, and returned to Australia in April 1919.