Captain, 5th Field Coy Royal Engineers who ‘Died of Wounds’ on 17/12/1914 at the age of 36. He is now laid to rest in the North-West part of SLOLEY (ST. BARTHOLOMEW) CHURCHYARD. St Jude’s Church South Kensington West London.

Between the 5th and 11th November 1914 the 5th Field Company were used as infantry to assist in stemming the German tide at Nonne Bosschen in the Battle of 1st Ypres.

From the Charterhouse Register, Oration Quarter 1891:

See also Charterhouse School, Goldalming, Surrey

Photograph Copyright © Steve Smith 2009

Extract from The Bond of Sacrifice Volume 1 Aug-Dec 1914, page 281:

MAJOR LIONEL JOHN NEVILLE NEVILLE, ROYAL ENGINEERS, who died on the 17th December, 1914, at the Casino Hospital, Boulogne, from wounds received near Bailleul on the 30th November, 1914, was the younger son of the late James Sewell Neville, late Judge of the High Court, Calcutta, of Sloley Hall, Norfolk, and Mrs. Neville, of 7, Mulberry Walk, Chelsea. He was a brother of R. J. N. Neville, M.P.

He was born at Calcutta on the 5th March, 1878, and was educated at Charterhouse, where he obtained prizes and senior scholarships; and passed into the R.M.A., Woolwich, in 1895, from which he received his commission in the Royal Engineers in September, 1897. He was promoted Lieutenant in September, 1900, and took part in the South African War, 1900-02, being present at operations in the Orange River Colony, including actions at Biddulphsberg and Wittebergen, and in the Transvaal. For his services in that campaign he received the Queen's medal with three clasps and the King's medal with two clasps. He was promoted Captain in September, 1906, and to his Majority in October, 1914, but his promotion was not gazetted until January, 1915, after his death.

In October, 1914, he went to Boulogne with other Royal Engineers and Royal Army Medical Corps officers to organise base hospitals, and was largely responsible for the organisation, adaptation, and equipment of the Maritime Hospital on the Quay, the Casino Hospital, and other hospitals in Boulogne and Wimereux. In November he was sent to the front to join the 5th Field Company, R.E., and on the last day of the month was transferred to the 56th Company. Within an hour of his arrival on duty in the firing zone at Kemmel he was wounded by a chance bullet, which after passing through his chest lodged in the heart of his brother officer, Captain Moores, R.E. He himself chose to be nursed in the Casino Hospital, where he died, that he might himself, as he said, test whether his work there was well done. He was buried at Sloley, Norfolk, with military honours on the 22nd December, 1914.

Major Neville, who was a most popular officer, married Agnes Lillian Fife, youngest daughter of the late Major-General Blewitt, and left two young daughters.

He was a member of the Army and Navy Club, and was a good lawn tennis player.

Extract from England & Wales Government Probate Death Index 1915:

NEVILLE Lionel John Neville of 5 Medway-villas Gillingham Kent died 17 December 1914 at Casino Hospital Boulogne Probate London 27 May to Reginald James Neville Neville barrister-at-law. Effects £84266 4s. 5d.

Extract from Westminster Gazette - Tuesday 20 September 1910, page 10:

TO-DAY'S WEDDINGS.

St. Jude's, South Kensington, was the scene of the wedding of Captain Lionel John Neville Neville, R.E., younger son of Mr. John S. Neville, of Sloley Hall, Norwich, with Miss Lilian Blewitt, youngest daughter of the late Major-General Charles Blewitt and Mrs. Blewitt, of 20, Courtfield-gardens. The ceremony, which was fully choral, was performed by the Rev. Prebendary Eardley Wilmot, the vicar, assisted by the Rev. S. Spackman, vicar of Sloley, Norfolk, and the bride was given away by her mother. There were two little train-bearers and seven bridesmaids—the Misses M. and E. Blewitt, sisters of the bride, the Misses K. and R. Neville, the bridegroom's sisters, the Misses Mary and Angela Neville, nieces of the bridegroom, and Miss Elsie Christine.

Extract from Globe - Wednesday 21 September 1910, page 2, and Tuesday 20 September 1910, page 4:

NEVILLE—BLEWITT

At St. Jude’s Church. South Kensington. Capt. Lionel John Neville Neville, of the Royal Engineers, younger son of Mr. John S. Neville, of Sloley Hall, Norfolk, was married to Miss Lilian Blewitt, youngest daughter of the late Major-Gen. Charles Blewitt and Mrs. Blewitt, of 20, Courtfield-gardens. Prebendary Eardley Wilmot, the vicar, officiated, assisted by the Rev. S. Spackman, vicar of Sloley.

The bride, who was given away by her mother, wore a gown of white satin, trimmed with Brussels lace, and a Honiton lace veil over a wreath of orange blossom and myrtle. There were seven bridesmaids —the Misses M. and E. Blewitt, sisters of the bride, the Misses K. and Neville, sisters of the bridegroom, the Misses Mary and Angela Neville, nieces of the bridegroom, and Miss Elsie Christine—wearing tunic dresses of pale grey ninon, over white satin, and large grey velvet hats, ornamented with thick gold cord. Miss Barbara Blewitt and Miss Ruth Marcon, nieces of the bride and bridegroom respectively, acted as train-bearers in white muslin frocks and caps of Irish lace. Capt. Duff, of the Royal Engineers, was best man. A reception was afterwards held by the bride’s mother at 20, Courtfield-gardens.

Extract from West Middlesex Gazette - Friday 25 December 1914, page 4, and Middlesex County Times - Saturday 26 December 1914, page 6 (heading different on this article):

DEATH OF CAPTAIN NEVILLE.

We regret to announce the death from wounds of Captain Lionel John Neville Neville, R.E., brother of Mr. Reginald James Neville Neville, M.P., Chairman of the Brentford Gas Company.

Captain Neville was thirty-six years of age, and entered the Royal Engineers in 1897. He served in South Africa from 1900 to 1902, and was present at the actions of Biddulphsberg and Wittenberg. He was promoted lieutenant in 1900 and Captain in 1906.