John William (Jack) NEAL
Personal
Born: 9 July, 1889
Birth registration: Victorian Births, Deaths & Marriages Registration No. 24211
Birthplace: Parwan
Parents: John Jack Neal b. 06/08/1862 at Talbetts Inn, Wakool River, NS.W. 27/04/1887
Catherine Mary Luby - Married at Melton.
Died: 14 December, 1932
Burial place: Melton Cemetery, Melton, Victoria
Awards and Honours
- British War Medal 1914-20
- Victory Medal
Battalions
2nd Pioneer Battalion, 5th Reinforcement
Events
Enlistment
Regimental Service Number: 2682
Enlistment date: 28 February, 1916 Melbourne
Age at enlistment: 25 years 7 months
Address at enlistment: Melton
Religion: Roman Catholic
Marital Status: Married
Next of kin: Father: Mr John Neal, engine driver, C/- Post Office, Melton
Wife: Mrs Isabella Neal, 97 Peel St., North Melbourne / 164 Ferrars St., South Melbourne
Physical Description: Height: 5 feet 5 inches
Weight: 126 pounds
Complexion: Dark
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Black
Distinctive marks: Moles: right ankle, left buttock
Embarkation ship: HMAT A10 Karroo.
Rank: Driver
Return Date: 4 June, 1919
Return Vessel: Mahia.
Arrival at Australia: 17 July, 1919.
War Service Summary
05/04/1916 - Geelong
01/07/1916 - Seymour
18/09/1916 - Embarked from Melbourne
19/10/1916 - Failed to re-embark Karroo at Cape Town; Skipped ship to meet up with His brother Keith who was aboard the Nestor.
19/10/1916 - A.W.L. for 6 hours detention & forfeiture of 8 days pay.
24/10/1916 - Re-embarked Nestor at Cape Town
16/11/1916 - Disembarked at Plymouth
19/12/1916 - Admitted to 1st Auxillary Hospital Harefield; severely ill; pneumonia
22/03/1917 - Discharged from Hospital
14/06/1917 - Proceeded overseas to France
14/10/1917 - Wounded in action, Belgium - Gun Shot Wound right buttock & thigh severe
18/10/1917 - Sent to England
02/04/1918 - Proceeded to France from Southampton
10/04/1918 - Proceeded to join unit Havre, France
26/04/1918 - Rejoined ex hospital
08/06/1918 - Admitted to hospital sick
02/09/1918 - Rejoined unit
04/06/1919 - Returned to Australia per Mahia
War Service Commemerated
Life After the War
24/07/1916 - Married: Isabella Veronica McLellan at St Marys, West Melbourne Reg. # 7342
Isabella was the daughter of Duncan McLellan and Margaret Mary Hogg
Children:
Jack
Catherine
Pat
Clare
Kevin
Beryl
Eric
Place/s of residence:
Melton
Occupations:
Labourer
Date of death:
14/12/1932 Reg. # 3897m
Place of burial:
Melton Cemetery
Additional Information
Melton Express
Saturday 6 July 1918, P 2
Despite the inclement weather on Saturday night, the Melton Mechanics' hall was well filled by local and district folk, who assembled to extend a welcome home to Privates Tom. Nolan, Frank Neal, G. Close and Tom Exell; also to say farewell to-Lance-Corporal Stanley Love, Privates Roy Monk and Norman Kinnersley. The platform was tastefully decorated for the occasion with greenery, flowers, and the Allied flags. Harmony was contributed by Misses Phyllis Emmett, Currie, Evans, Messrs. McLeish, Osborne and S. Hardy. The performers were all in excellent voice and had perforce to obey encores. The
Chairman of the Recruiting Committee (Rev. S. Love) …….
….. Privates Close, Nolan and Neal responded in neat speeches, thanking the audience for the splendid reception given them.--The (Rev.) Lance-Corporal Love said he knew his enlistment was a surprise to many people, but he saw other married men obeying the call of Empire and he had no desire to shelter himself behind his clerical collar. He then spoke in his usual happy vein and gave some experiences of camp life.
….
To show the inequality of sacrifice in connection with the war, it is interesting to note that the whole family of Nolan brothers and Neal brothers enlisted. Three Nolans and Frank Neal have returned. Privates Joe Nolan and Keith and Jack Neal are still in the firing line.
Melton Express
17 December 1932, P. 2
NEAL – On 14th December, at Melbourne Hospital, John William Neal (Jack) dearly loved husband of Isabella Neal, and loving father of Jack, Catherine (deceased), Pat, Clare, Kevin, Beryl and Eric, late 2nd Pioneers, A.I.F., aged 40 years. R.I.P.
Sadly missed.
Mr John Neal died in the Melbourne Hospital on Tuesday at the age of 40 years. Mr. Neal was a native of the district and a returned soldier. He worked for many years at Ward’s Chaff Mill, and leaves a widow and six children to mourn his loss. The funeral took place in Melton cemetery on Thursday.The Argus
Tuesday 24 April 1934, P 1
AFTER the expiration of fourteen days from the publication hereof, application will be made to the Supreme Court of Victoria that LETTERS of ADMINISTRATION of the estate of JOHN WILLIAM NEAL, late of Melton, in Victoria, Labourer, deceased, intestate, may be granted to Isabella Veronica Neal, of Melton, being the widow of the said deceased.
Sources
Service Record
Newspaper accounts