SAPPER WILLIAM NEILD
3340 – 1st Tunnelling Company
William Neild was born in Stafford, Staffordshire, England about 1891 the son of . In 1901 he was residing at 72 Eastgate Street, Stafford at the home of his grandparents William and Cecily Higgins. Also there was Edmund Neild (48), Edith M. (13) a domestic at home and William (10).
At twenty-two years of age he arrived in Queensland on September 24, 1911 on the steamer Kaikoura. In 1913 he was working as a labourer at Redbank via Brisbane, Qld.
At the recruiting depot in Brisbane, Qld on February 14, 1916 the twenty-six year and a half year old applied to enlist for service abroad. The Application only gave his address as G.P.O. Brisbane. Passing the medical examination forms of Attestation were completed which give further information of his height 170cms (5ft 7ins), weight 69kgs (152lbs) with a chest measurement of 97-102cms (38-40ins). Complexion was fair with blue eyes and fair hair. His vision tested to very poor sight in his left eye and fair in his right eye and it was noted that he had flat feet but good spring in both arches. Distinctive marks were two vaccination scars. Roman Catholic was his religion. Next-of-kin was his father Edward James Neild of 21 Victoria Street, Stafford, England. He was sworn in the same day.
He entered Enoggera camp, Brisbane on February 19 for basic training with the 11th Depot Battalion until March 22 when he was sent to the Miners’ Depot (1st Military district) and assigned to the No. 4 Tunnelling Company in the rank of Sapper with the regimental number 3340.
The No. 4 Company embarked from Brisbane, Qld early in May, 1916 aboard HMAT A69 Warilda for Sydney, NSW. Six officers and 152 other ranks together with the 1st Reinforcements of fifteen other ranks made up the two sections.
At Rosebery Park, Sydney, NSW on May 11, 1916 joined their Headquarters and two sections (8 officers & 153 O.Rs.) plus 1st Reinforcements consisting of one officer and seventeen other ranks for final training.
The 7713-ton transport departed Sydney, NSW on May 22, 1916 and collected in Melbourne, Victoria the No. 5 Company recruited from Victoria, South Aust. & Tasmania made up of Headquarters and 2 Sections (8 officers & 173 men) (3 M.D.). 1 Section from Tasmania (3 officers & 76 O.Rs); also 1st Reinforcements for No. 5 Company (17 men from Vic. & 8 men Tas.) The ship departed on May 25, 1916 for Adelaide, S.A. to collect one Section of 3 officers & 76 O.Rs with 1st Reinforcements of 8 O.Rs.
Docking at Fremantle, W.A. on June 1, 1916 added No. 6 Company recruited from W.A. of 14 officers and 325 O.Rs along with 1st Reinforcements of 1 Officer & 32 O.Rs departing the same day.
Durban, South Africa was reached on June 16, 1916. On this day the following was dealt with:
16/6/16Using insubordinate language to a superior officer
Award:21 days detention
The ship arrived in Cape Town on June 21, 1916 then St Vincent completed the African ports of call on July 7, 1916. Discipline was fairly good except at intermediate ports where Away without Leave caused concern. The fifty-eight day voyage experienced remarkable pleasant weather terminating at Plymouth, England on July 18, 1916. Four, Five and Six Companies comprising of 1064 officers and other ranks were detrained to Amesbury and Tidworth to begin training for the front at Perham Down’s camp.
Lt-Colonel K.K. Baker mitigated his sentence to 10 days Field Punishment No. 2 on 17/7/16.
While in camp the following events occurred:
30/7/16Causing a disturbance after lights out
Award:Admonished
Absent without leave from camp 4/8/16 to 7/8/16
Award:14 days C.B. [confined to barracks] 8 days punishment drill.
Forfeits:Pay for time absent by Major T.H. Vincent.
Crime:Parkhouse 27/9/16 Absent from 0630 parade 27/9/16
Award:4 days C.B. by Lieut Kennedy O.C. 28/9/16
6/10/16Talking on parade
Award:4 days C.B.
Crime:Parkhouse 9/10/16 AWL 2400 8/10/16 to 2400 9/10/16
Award:5 days C.B. by Lieut Kennedy O.C. 10/10/16
Total forfeiture:1 days pay.
A report was issued from Bhurtpore Barracks outlining that the consequences of a trial were expunged from his records.
A report was issued to the Officer Commanding “A” Group at Perham Downs on September 16, 1916, which stated that the Court Martial held on board the H.M.A.T. Warilda during the voyage from Australia was improperly constituted and therefore illegal in the case of the soldier.
The Reinforcements proceeded overseas to France on October 15, 1916 and arrived at the Aust General Base Depot four days later.
Sapper Neild marched out to the 1st Tunnelling Company in the field on November 21, 1916 and was taken on strength two days after.
Service continued without further incident until October 18, 1917 when he wounded in action through a mustard gas attack and taken to the 8th Aust Field Ambulance, gassed but N.Y.D. (not yet diagnosed) and was discharged to duty on October 27 and returned two day later.
On November 21, 1917 the following was dealt with the C.O. Major Anderson, A.E.
Crime:W.O.A.S. [while on active service] AWL from 2 p.m. 19/11/17 to 2 p.m.
20/11/17
Award:4 days F.P. No. 2 [Field Punishment]
Total forfeiture:6 days pay
He went sick on December 13, 1917 to hospital and returned to rejoin his unit on December 17.
Blue Chevrons were issued to wear on his uniform for serving twelve months.
Further sickness occurred when he spent several days in hospital from June 25 until June 28, 1918.
On October 18, 1918 he proceeded on leave disembarking at Folkstone, England and reported to Administration Headquarters and went on leave as from the following day and rejoined his unit on November 5, 1918.
He was with his unit when Peace was announced and the Tunnelling Companies remained as part of the Army of Occupation assisting with the rehabilitation of their area by clearing roads and bridges from explosives and traps.
On January 4, 1919 he went sick to the 48th Casualty Clearing Station and admitted with N.Y.D. but three days later was sent to the 55th C.C.S. until January 8 then transported on A.T.33 entering the 39th General Hospital in Havre. On January he left by hospital ship for the 1st Aust Dermatological Hospital at Bulford for treatment of a social disease. On January 25, 1919 he was attached to the A.D.H. for duty and is recorded at the Convalescent Training Depot from that date.
He was detached on June 3, 1919 and marched out to the No. 1 Group camp at Longbridge, Deverill arriving on June 5.
Sapper Neild departed for Australia on board the H.T. Argylshire on August 1, 1919. The ship arrived in Melbourne, Vic (3rd M.D.) on September 22, 1919 and he left for Queensland soon after.
Proceedings from the Court Martial were filed on August 9, 1919.
On September 24, 1919 at the 6th Aust General Hospital at Kangaroo Point, Brisbane he appeared before a medical board and his Statement of Case reads:
Disability:Defective vision
States – gassed October 1917 at Ypres. 10 days C.C.S.
No specialist’s report available. Says he has difficulty in reading ordinary
type.
Gassed Oct 1917. Since then defective vision.
20/10/19Eyes have been attended to. Otherwise well.
Degree of improvement:100% 6 months
Percentage:Full capacity 30% Labour market 30%
Recommendation:Discharge
A Specialist’s Report was issued on October 10, 1919 after an examination on October 8.
It stated that his uncorrected vision was barely 6/60 in his right eye and 6/60 in his left eye.
Patient was ordered corrective glasses in England but has not worn them. He was to bring these so as the Specialist could see if they were what he should wear.
His condition was not due to active service.
J. Lockhardt Gibson, Major
A second notation added on 10/10/19
A prescription 6D Spl for each constant. With these will get 6/18 vision and probably more. Not due to active service.
Military Discharge was issued in Brisbane (1st M.D.) on December 14, 1919 as medically unfit due to defective vision.
For serving his country Sapper 3340 William Neild, 1st Tunnelling Company received the British War Medal (17077) and the Victory Medal (16680).
His address on his return was care of Mr Wall, 170 Grey Street, Oxley and his occupation was labourer.
In 1923 he married Margaret Millicent Maud Gleadhill in Queensland. Their address was Main Road, Pinkenba in 1925 and in 1943 it was Esker Street, Pinkenba and he was working as a waterside worker. In 1949 it was Nellie Street, Nundah, Brisbane and still a labourer.
William Neild died on September 17, 1951 aged 62 years. Arrangements were published in The Courier-Mail on Tuesday September 18, 1951:
His grave is in Anzac Portion 8 of the Lutwyche Cemetery, Brisbane in section 4 grave no. 23.
© Donna Baldey 2011