Name
Percy John Neal
1892
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
05/08/1915
22
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Sapper
45015
Royal Engineers
81st Field Company
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
LA GORGUE COMMUNAL CEMETERY
II. B. 1.
France
Headstone Inscription
REST IN PEACE
UK & Other Memorials
Baldock Town Memorial, St Mary the Virgin Church Memorial, Baldock
Pre War
Percy John Neal (known as John) was born in Baldock, Herts in 1892, the son of David and Ellen Neal and was baptised at Great Wymondley, Herts on 5 February 1893.
On the 1901 Census the family were living at Hitchin Street, Baldock where his father was a grocer's carman. They remained in Baldock in 1911 at which time (Percy) John was working as a moulder in an iron works.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in London and joined the Royal Engineers, serving in France with the 81st Field Company from 20 July 1915.
Whilst in a communication trench Percy was struck in the head by a chance bullet inflicting a fatal wound to which he succumbed on 5 August 1915 at No. 7 Field Ambulance. He is buried in La Gorgue Communal Cemetery, France.
Additional Information
His mother received a war gratuity of £3 and pay owing of £1 16s 2d. Although pension cards exist in respect of Percy, they do not show any amount of pension paid.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Adrian Pitts, Paul Johnson
