Second Lieutenant, 4th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers. 3rd. Division. Died of wounds 16 August 1916. Aged 20. Grave lost. Son of Walter and Margaret Neighbour of 1 Parkhurst Road, Bexhill. Educated at Christs Hospital, Horsham and Pembroke College, Cambridge. No known grave. Commemorated on THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, Somme, France. Pier and Face 8 C 9 A and 16 A.

Extract from Bexhill-on-Sea Observer - Saturday 2 September 1916, page 10:

As recorded in our last issue, Second- Lieutenant Walter Bayard Neighbour, of the Royal Fusiliers, only son of Mrs. Neighbour, of Mountcroft, Parkhurst-road, has been killed in action. He was only 20 years age.

Extract from Bexhill-on-Sea Chronicle - Saturday 16 September 1916, page 1:

Much sympathy will be felt. with Mrs. W. Neighbour, of Mount Croft, Parkhurst Road, Bexhill, at the loss of her only son, Second Lieutenant Walter Bayard Neighbour, Royal Fusiliers, who died of wounds in August last. He was educated at Christ's Hospital, where he was Grecian Exhibitioner, Head of his House, and a cadet officer of the O.T.C. He was elected to a classical scholarship at Pembroke College, Cambridge, in 1914, but was given his commission in August, 1915. He had only been a few weeks at the Front before his death. He w as 20 years of age.

[Spelt NICHOLLS on memorial] Private G/124, 7th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment. Killed in action 4 August 1916 with british Expeditionary Force. Born Kensington, Middlesex, enlisted Bexhill. Awarded the Military Medal (M.M.). No known grave. Commemorated on THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, Somme, France. Pier and Face 7 C.

Copyright © Diana Nicholls 2024

Research Copyright © Diana Nicols:

In August 1914, Frank was staying with his elder brother Jack and his family at 14 North Road, Sidley. Britain had declared War on Germany on 4th August 1914. The local newspapers, like all other newspapers in the land, were full of patriotic fervour and propaganda encouraging men to volunteer, especially in the Army.
He was 17 in June 1914 and volunteers had to be at least 19. Frank reported to Bexhill Town Hall and enlisted into the Royal Sussex Regiment to serve for 3 years.
On the Attestation Form he declared himself to be 19 years and one month, adding two years to his actual age. The Army did not demand sight of his birth certificate and the Medical Officer stated that his ’apparent age’ was 18 years and 1 month – still a year under the stated minimum age.
Frank was given his full Medical Examination at the Royal Sussex Regiment’s barracks in Chichester on 14th August, two days after he enlisted. He was posted to General Service with the Royal Sussex with the number G/124 on 19th August, and on 29th August 1914 was posted as a Private to the 7th Battalion of the Regiment. This battalion had only been raised 10 days before as part of the first of Kitchener’s new armies.
The Battalion joined 36th Brigade, 12th Division, Sabraon Barracks, Colchester. In October 1914 the Battalion moved to Shorncliffe, then two months later to billets in Folkestone. In March 1915 it moved to Ramilies Barracks, Aldershot, for final training where it remained until 30th May 1915.
He landed at Boulogne with his unit on 1st June. After initial tuition Frank occupied his first trench near Armentieres. He remained in that vicinity until the end of September during which he had a stay in hospital.
In early 1916 the 7th battalion was in the Hohenzollern Redoubt and experienced the stiffest fighting they had come across. Following the explosion of four huge mines there was a great deal of severe crater fighting. Some ground was gained by the Battalion but this caused very strong counter-attacks, the barrages being particularly heavy. The Germans were repulsed on each occasion, and despite heavy casualties the Battalion held fast to the ground gained, for which they were awarded a special Commendation by the Corps Commander. As April drew to a close, the 7th Battalion was in support close up to the front. They were very heavily shelled and came in for a very strong cloud of gas, the result of an attack made on the first line. The gas was as thick as a London fog and the battalion had to wear gas masks for 30 minutes. No casualties were sustained.
In June 1916 the 7th Battalion moved into the neighbourhood of Amiens and the first Battle of the Somme was imminent. Frank was in ‘B’ Company. The Battalion fought in the Battle of Albert 1 – 13 July 1916. On the 7th and 8th July 1916, the Battalion participated in the capture of Ovillers la Boiselle. It was a very hard fight and they achieved their objective after two failures by other troops during the previous week.
Frank was awarded the Military Medal for his bravery during the capture of Ovillers la Boiselle, it was not officially mentioned until 29th August in the War Diary covering the Pozieres honours. The award was made on 19th September, 1916. Frank had been dead over a month.
In 1926, there was some correspondence between the Army and his mother's representative, a Mr H. A. Bull, concerning Frank's medals. His mother clearly believed that Frank had been awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal, and she had not received the medal or the £20 gratuity. The Infantry Record Office, Hounslow, stated that their records showed no trace of the DCM being awarded to Frank. The Colonel In Charge Infantry Records went on to state 'The medals earned by this man are the Military Medal, 1914-15 Star, British War and Victory Medals all of which have been issued'. This confusion over the DCM was probably caused in Bexhill. The Bexhill War Memorial shows Frank Victor Nichols as MM, and DCM. Whether the engravers got confused or Frank's Bexhill family became over-enthusiastic about Frank's medals is not known. However, it is possible that either Frank's mother or one of his other siblings visited Bexhill to see Frank's name on the Bexhill War Memorial. Once Alma knew of the DCM, she thought that it had not been issued.

Private G/18905, Depot, Duke Of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment) attached to the Agricultural Company Formerly G/3/21409, East Surrey Regiment. Died in United Kingdom 26 June 1917. Husband of Florence H. (nee Buck) Noad, of 12, St. Mary's Terrace, Ninfield Road, Bexhill-on-Sea, married July to September Quarter 1910 in Battle Registration District, Sussex. Born in Bishop Auckland, Durham, resident Sidley, Sussex, and enlisted in Chichester. Cremated and commemorated in KENSAL GREEN (ALL SOULS') CEMETERY, London. 213. 7. 28 (Screen Wall).

Extract from Bexhill-on-Sea Observer - Saturday 30 August 1947, page 7:

Legal Notices
CHARLES NOAD. deceased.

WILL the children of CHARLES STEPHEN GAISFORD NOAD who died on 26th June 1917, at a London Military Hospital (a Son of the late Charles Noad of Combe Down. Bath Somerset) and last heard of in Bexhill Sussex, or any person having information concerning the above please communicate with

COLLINS & HUGHES.
Solicitors.
15. Gay Street.
Bath Somerset

Julian

Captain, Indian Army Postal Service. Died of Tetanus at Tanga, East Africa, 14 October 1916. Aged 35. Born 5 February 1881. Third son of William George and Rebecca North, of South Thoresby Manor, Alford, Lincolnshire and of 78, Clapham Road, bedford; husband of Dorothy L. North, of "Rowans," Latchmoor Grove, Gerrard's Cross, Bucks, England and 41, Dorset Road, Bexhill-on-Sea. Served in the South African War. Admitted to Bedford Grammar School, Bedford, May 1895, left 1899. Buried in TANGA EUROPEAN CEMETERY, Tanzania. Plot V. Row D. Grave 6.

Extract from England & Wales Government Probate Death Index 1917:

NORTH Julian of Delhi India captain H.M. Army died 14 October 1916 at Tanga German East Africa Probate London 26 May to Dorothy Louise North widow. Effects £4848 16s. 3d.

Extract from Bexhill-on-Sea Chronicle - Saturday 21 October 1916, page 9:

NORTH.—On Saturday, Oct. 14th, 1916, abroad, after severe illness, Julian North (Captain), Indian Telegraph Department, dearly-loved husband of Dorothy North, Ellesboro, 41, Dorset Road, Bexhill, aged 35.

Extract from Bexhill-on-Sea Chronicle - Saturday 21 October 1916, page 9:

CAPTAIN NORTH DEAD.

There will will be many sympathisers in the town with Mrs. North, of Ealing and daughter of Mrs. Grantham, of “Ellesboro,” Bexhill, who has received very sad news this week of the death of her husband, Capt-Julian North. a very gallant officer, who has been doing much good work with the Field Telegraph Service, Indian Department. The death occurred at Tonga, East Africa. on October 14th. His decease will be regretted by a large number of friends abroad, for he had spent a large part of his life in India. and had just completed 12½ years' service there. He was 35 years of age. and leaves his wife and a daughter of 4½ years to mourn his loss.