NEATE, William
| Service Number: | 456 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 31 March 1915, William's mother signed a letter of permission for him to join up. |
| Last Rank: | Lance Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 24th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Richmond, 1897 |
| Home Town: | Not yet discovered |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Tinsmith |
| Died: | Edithvale, Victoria, Australia, 24 September 1956, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Springvale Botanical Cemetery, Melbourne Cremated, remains scattered Full name - William Henry Neate |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 31 Mar 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 456, 21st Infantry Battalion, William's mother signed a letter of permission for him to join up. | |
|---|---|---|
| 7 Apr 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 456, 21st Infantry Battalion | |
| 10 May 1915: | Embarked Private, 456, 24th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ulysses, Melbourne | |
| 10 May 1915: | Involvement Private, 456, 24th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '13' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Ulysses embarkation_ship_number: A38 public_note: '' | |
| 31 Aug 1918: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 21st Infantry Battalion | |
| 28 Mar 1919: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 24th Infantry Battalion | |
| 3 Aug 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 456, 24th Infantry Battalion, William signed up as William Neate. His registered birth name is William Henry Neate. He had a cousin of the same name, also a WW1 soldier. Originally assigned to 21st Infantry Battalion, William was transferred to the 24th Infantry Battalion 13 October, 1918. |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Linda Neate
Henry Thomas Neate & Amelia nee Herzog welcomed William Henry Neate into the world in February, 1897, born in Richmond, as their third son, and one of ten offspring.
Henry died before William had reached the age of 6, so life with a big family must have been quite a struggle.
Prior to enlisting, William was a member of the 53rd Area Senior Cadets. A number of his cousins were also involved in these cadet programmes. With his mother's permission, William enlisted for army service dated 31 March, 1915. His enlistment papers record that he was 5'8" tall, weighed 10 stone, 11 pounds, was of medium complexion, grey eyes and light brown hair, and religion persuasion Congregationalist. As a number of Neate family members had been active in the Oxford Street, Collingwood Congregational Church, it is possible this was William's home church (the church building was decommissioned and demolished in the 1950s).
William was awarded the Star, British War & Victory Medals for his services in the Great War.
William married Alice May Edmond, born in South Africa 1903, in 1929, and their first home was in Auburn. Later, with their children Jack and Valda, they moved to the sea-side suburb of Edithvale. William, a plumber, was a member of the Chelsea Masonic Lodge No.346 and Valiant Lodge No.606.
William died on 24 September, 1956, and was cremated at Springvale Crematorium, with the ashes "scattered".
Alice died on 5 January, 1994, and her cremated remains were interred at Springvale in "Boronia" Wall Niche, Wall E Niche 14.