Lance Corporal John Henry Neale 1st/14th Battalion The London Regiment (London Scottish)

London Scottish Badge & Tartan

John Henry Neale was a Lance Corporal, No. 5739 in the 1st/14th Battalion, London Regt (London Scottish) and he died on Sunday 10th September 1916 aged about 26.

All of the family were born in Great Glen and in 1901 they lived in School Street. There were 9 in the house. John’s parents 57 year old William and his wife Elizabeth, his 2 older brothers, Harry (23) and Walter (22), two unmarried sisters Florence aged 19 and Lilian aged 8 and the eldest child, 28 year old Phoebe and her husband Samuel Coleman. William was described as a general labourer.

56th

The London Scottish was part of the 4th Army, XIV Corps, 56th Division, 168 Brigade when the Battle of the Somme opened on 1st July 1916. Their Division was involved on the first day at Gommercourt. The Division was involved in the Battle of Ginchy on 9th/10th September, part of the Somme offensive which went on until 18th November 1916.

Maltz Horn Farm Battle Site

On 7th September 1916 the Battalion was in reserve at Maltz Horn Farm. On 9th September they received instructions to go out and attack the enemy. It was a very dark night. The following morning, the 10th, the weather was misty, and when the Battalion attacked they met about 200 Germans. Severe casualties were inflicted on both sides and the trench system under attack, known as Quadrilateral, remained in enemy hands. John Neale was killed during this exchange.

John's entry at Thiepval

John, like many thousands of other WW1 soldiers, has no known grave. He and his colleagues are commemorated at the Thiepval Memorial on the Somme in France. Their names are on ‘Pier and Face 9C and 13C of that memorial. For directions on how to find the memorial please click on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission web site link. A major ceremony is held at the memorial on 1st July each year – the anniversary of the first day of the Battle of the Somme in 1916

London Scottish burying dead

The London Scottish was, of course, a kilted regiment and during WWI a khaki apron was issued to cover the kilt. The photograph shows men of the London Scottish burying their dead comrades and the kilt and apron can be clearly seen.

Bert Coleman was also in the London Scottish at the same time as John.

View of the Thiepval Memorial

John was entitled to the British War Medal and the Victory Medal