Name
Frederick Charles Neville
27/08/1898
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
03/12/1917
19
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
G/10980
Duke of Cambridge’s Own (Middlesex Regiment)
17th (Service) Bn. (1st Footballers)
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
CAMBRAI MEMORIAL, LOUVERVAL
Panel 9.
France
Headstone Inscription
He has no Headstone. He is commemorated on the Cambrai Memorial in France to the missing.
UK & Other Memorials
Oxhey, Herts, War Memorial, St Matthew’s Church Memorial, Oxhey, Paddock Road Baptist Chapel (now Oxhey Village Baptist Church) Memorial, Oxhey, Roll of honour or book of remembrance Watford
Pre War
Frederick Charles Neville, born in Watford, Herts, on 27th August 1898, was the second son of Thomas Edward Neville, a brass finisher, and Lilian Neville (nee Darby).
He was Baptised at St Matthew's Church, Oxhey, on 16th September 1898.
1901 Census records Frederick aged 2, living with his parents, and brother Thomas 4, at 34, Upper Paddock Road, New Bushey, Herts.
1911 Census records Frederick aged 12, living with his parents, brothers Thomas 14, John 9 and sister Doris 1, still at 34, Upper Paddock Road.
The family moved to 35 Oxhey Street, Watford, Herts, in about 1915.
His parents married 10 November 1895 at St Matthew’s, Oxhey, Herts. Thomas died 1932 in Watford aged 57, and was buried 15 December in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford; Lilian died 25 March 1949 in Greenford, Middx, aged 73.
When war broke out Frederick was employed by the Watford Gas Co.
Wartime Service
When war broke out Frederick enlisted as Private G/10980 at Mill Hill first with the 4th and then with the 17th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment. He arrived in France on the 19 October 1915, aged just 17 and far too young to be performing overseas service with the British Army.
On the 29th November 1917, the Battalion were in Reserve positions near the village of Moevres, France, having been in front line trenches for the previous three days. The following morning the Germans made an extremely heavy counter attack on the positions, which were now held by the 1st Battalion, Liverpool Regiment, and the 17th Middlesex were ordered to assist in fending off the enemy attack. A bitter fight erupted and, over the next three days, the Battalion fought doggedly to retain their positions from the advancing Germans. On the last day, 3rd December, German artillery laid a heavy barrage on the Battalion positions, and it was during this bombardment that Frederick Neville was killed.
His body was never recovered and he has no known grave and he is remembered with honour on the Cambrai Memorial, Louverval in France
Additional Information
There is a brief article about and a Death announcement for Frederick in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 12 January 1918; plus an In Memoriam in the issue dated 7 December 1918. Unfortunately, Frederick’s Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk), Dianne Payne - www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk, Jonty Wild, Paul Johnson
