Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Son of Richard Houston McNeice and Catherine Ellen McNeice (nee Cope)

Wife As shown in Photo: Ellen Ursula McNeice(nee McCleary) 

SPR William Houston McNeice - 20273

William Houston McNeice was born on 17th March 1896 at Enmore, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.(1) His father was Richard Houston McNeice, a commercial traveller and his mother was Catherine Ellen McNeice. He had blue eyes and brown hair. (2) McNeice enrolled at Sydney Technical  High School and won the Technical Scholarship in 1909 and the Intermediate Scholarship two years later. Another two years later he won the Cadet Draftsman for the Department of lands. (3) The local newspaper, Cobar Herald, said “Master William Houston McNeice, ... distinguished himself by winning the certificate of a Cadet Draftsman at 17 years of age … Considering that it is lads of 20 or 21 years who usually score in this competition, young McNeice has done well and deserves congratulations.”. (4) After being a Cadet Draftsman he became an assistant surveyor. 

McNeice enlisted as a sapper on 29th of July, 1917 when he was 21 years and 4 months old. He was 67.6 kilograms and 179 centimetres tall. (5) The role of a sapper was to construct defensive positions, bridges, wells and supply routes, demolish enemy structures and breach enemy defences. (6)  On the 17th of September, 1917 he successfully applied for three days of leave which he used to go to Hill View at Bogan Gate, NSW to marry Ellen Ursula McNeice. (7)

On the 21th of November, 1917 he embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, as part of the Field Company Engineers, September 1917 Reinforcements on board HMAT A71 Nestor. He was to join the 1st Field Company Engineers which was assigned to the 1st Division. On the 2nd of February 1918 he arrived in South Hampton England. Twenty four days later he was admitted to hospital in Hastings due to influenza and was discharged for duty on the 11th of March. (8) He finally departed for France on the 13th of August, 1918 before arriving at the Australian Divisional Base Depot in Rouelles eleven days later. A day earlier the 1st Division had attacked south of the River Somme. (9)  On the 18th of September the 1st Division attacked the Hindenburg "Outpost" Line in the battle of Épehy. (10) The attack gained the Allies approximately 4.8 kilometres, 12000 prisoners and 100 guns. (11) After the battle the 1st Division would withdraw from the war due to  severely depleted manpower. The war ended on the 11th of November 1918.

McNeice was transferred back to England on the 11th of December, 1918. (12) Seven months later on the 4th of June, 1919 he left England for Australia. He arrived a month later on the 20th of August and was discharged from service on the 12th of September. (13)

He returned to his job at the Department of Lands as an assistant surveyor before becoming an valuer at the Department of Valuer General. (14) His first son, Douglas Stewart McNeice was born on the 24th of October 1920. His second son, Richard Bruce McNeice was born two years later followed by his third son, Ian Grant McNeice another two years later.  William McNiece’s father died on the 14th of November 1931. (15)

McNeice was appointed as Senior valuer in 1947 and his mother died on the 7th of November 1957. He was then appointed Chief valuer in 1959 and that same year his third son, Ian McNeice died and William NcNeice’s wife died only 4 months later. He retired on the 16th of March, 1961 before passing away on the 29th of October, 1976 in Wollongong, New South Wales.

References

(1) Ken Stevenson. Honour Board Project. William Houston McNiece.docx

(2) Anonymous. “B2455 Personnel Dossiers for First Australian Imperial Force Ex-Service Members, Lexicographical series.” in National Archives of Australia. 
(3)Ken Stevenson. Honour Board Project. William Houston McNiece.docx
(4)ibid
(5)Anonymous. “B2455 Personnel Dossiers for First Australian Imperial Force Ex-Service Members, Lexicographical series.” in National Archives of Australia.
(6)Anonymous. “1st Field Company - Engineers” in BirtwistleWiki  page last edited on 9 March 2021, viewed on 2 August 2024
(7)Anonymous. “B2455 Personnel Dossiers for First Australian Imperial Force Ex-Service Members, Lexicographical series.” in National Archives of Australia. viewed on 2 August 2024
(8)ibid
(9)E. Santis “1st Field Company Australian Engineers” in UBIQUE last updated 31 July 2024 viewed on 2 August 2024 https://www.reubique.com/1austfc.htm
(10)C. Baker “The Battles of the Hindenburg Line” in The Long, Long Trail sponsored by Sophie's Great War Tours, Battle Guide Virtual Tours and Battle Honours viewed on 2 August 2024 https://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/battles/battles-of-the-western-front-in-france-and-flanders/the-battles-of-the-hindenburg-line/
(11)Rickard, J , “Battle of Epéhy, 18-19 September 1918,” in Military History Encyclopedia on the Web http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/battles_epehy.html
(12)Anonymous. “B2455 Personnel Dossiers for First Australian Imperial Force Ex-Service Members, Lexicographical series.” in National Archives of Australia. viewed on 2 August 2024
(13)ibid
(14)Ken Stevenson. Honour Board Project.
(15)Ibid

Bibliography

E. Santis “1st Field Company Australian Engineers” in UBIQUE last updated 31 July 2024 viewed on 2 August 2024 https://www.reubique.com/1austfc.htm

“1st Field Company - Engineers” in BirtwistleWiki  page last edited on 9 March 2021, viewed on 2 August 2024 https://birtwistlewiki.com.au/wiki/1st_Field_Company_-_Engineers

“B2455 Personnel Dossiers for First Australian Imperial Force Ex-Service Members, Lexicographical series.” in National Archives of Australia. viewed on 2 August 2024

Rickard, J , “Battle of Epéhy, 18-19 September 1918,” in Military History Encyclopedia on the Web http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/battles_epehy.html

Ken Stevenson, Research on Google Drive

C. Baker “The Battles of the Hindenburg Line” in The Long, Long Trail sponsored by Sophie's Great War Tours, Battle Guide Virtual Tours and Battle Honours viewed on 2 August 2024 https://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/battles/battles-of-the-western-front-in-france-and-flanders/the-battles-of-the-hindenburg-line/