Thomas Neely

Thomas Patrick Neely
Born (1897-03-28)28 March 1897
Poulton-cum-Seacombe, Wallasey, Cheshire, England
Died 1 October 1918(1918-10-01) (aged 21)
Rumilly-en-Cambrésis, south of Cambrai, France
Buried at Masnieres British Cemetery, Marcoing, France
Allegiance  United Kingdom
Service/branch British Army
Rank Corporal
Unit The King's Own (Royal Lancaster) Regiment
Battles/wars World War I
Awards

Thomas Patrick Neely VC MM (28 March 1897 1 October 1918) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Details

Neely was 21 years old, and a Lance sergeant in the 8th Battalion, The King's Own (Royal Lancaster) Regiment, British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place at Flesquières, France during the battle of the Canal du Nord for which he was awarded the VC.

On 27 September 1918 at Flesquières, France, when his company was held up during the advance by heavy machine-gun fire, Corporal Neely realising the seriousness of the situation, at once under point-blank fire, dashed out with two men and rushed the gun positions, disposing of the garrisons and capturing three machine-guns. Subsequently, on two occasions, he rushed concrete strong-points, killing or capturing the occupants. His actions enabled his company to advance 3,000 yards along the Hindenburg support line[1]

Neely was killed three days later in action at Rumilly-en-Cambrésis, just south of Cambrai, France, on 1 October 1918. He was buried at Masnieres British Cemetery in Marcoing, France.[2][3]

See also

References

  1. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 31067. p. 14777. 13 December 1918. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  2. "Thomas Neely". Find A Grave. Retrieved 2010-06-29.
  3. CWGC entry


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