Capt Arthur de Bells Adam (MC)
1885 - 1916

CPL David Wallace Crawford
1887 - 1916

Lce-Corpl John Joseph Nickle
1894 - 1916

Pte 17911 Morton Neill
1897 - 1916

Lieut Edward Stanley Ashcroft
1883 - 1918

Pte 52099 Decimus Neal

Age: 23
From: Manchester
Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
D.O.W Thursday 12th April 1917
Commemorated at: Warlincourt Halte Brit Cem
Panel Ref: VII.C.2

Decimus Neal was born on the 21st April 1893 and was baptised on the 29th August 1893 in Holy Trinity Church, Hulme, Manchester. He was the son of Decimus Neal and his wife Phoebe (née Armitt) who were married on the 03rd February 1890 in St. Clement’s Church, Greenheys, Hulme. His father was born in Manchester, his mother in Staffordshire.

The 1901 Census finds the family living at 13 Upper Duke Street in Hulme. His father, is a 32 year old bricklayer, born in Manchester, his mother is 34 years of age and was born in Rushton, Staffordshire. Decimus is one of seven children in the household; Thomas W. is aged 12, Edith is 9, Decimus is 7, Emma is 5, Lucy is 3, Elsie is 2 and Lydia is 7 months old. All children were born in Manchester.

His father Decimus, for some reason, was admitted to Manchester Withington Workhouse on the 23rd January 1906.

There were nine surviving children, four sons and five daughters. Decimus is the second child and eldest son, his siblings were Edith, Emma, Lucy, Elsie, Mary, Thomas, Frank, and Charles.

Decimus was admitted to Gaythorn County Primary School, Manchester in 1900.

The 1901 Census finds the family living at 13 Upper Duke Street in Hulme. His father is a 32 year old bricklayer, born in Manchester, his mother is 34 years of age and was born in Rushton, Staffordshire. Decimus is one of seven children in the household; Thomas W. is aged 12, Edith is 9, Decimus is 7, Emma is 5, Lucy is 3, Elsie is 2 and Lydia is 7 months old. All children were born in Manchester.

In 1904 his father was awarded £30 compensation for a work place scaffolding accident. A report of the hearing was featured in the Manchester Evening News on 28th November 1904.

HULME SCAFFOLD ACCIDENT

COMPENSATION CLAIM

A claim for Compensation was heard at the Manchester Crown Court, today, by the Deputy Judge, Mr Leresche. The applicant was Decimus Neal, a bricklayer, who in August last was thrown to the ground owing to the collapse of a scaffold in Ludlow-street, Hulme.

Neal alleged that he was employed by Thomas Andrews of Dickenson-street, Hulme, but for the defence it was contended that Andrews was not the employer, and that the person responsible was a man named Simpson, who engaged the plaintiff.

Neal, in his evidence, admitted that he was engaged by Simpson, but understood that Thomas Andrews was the "boss". In support of this Neal, added that he had received a "sub" of a shilling from Andrews jun., which was stopped on pay day. Plaintiff further stated that he had received a letter from Andrews repudiating liability and pointing out that Simpson had contracted to do the job.

It was stated during the evidence for the defence that the shilling was not given as a "sub" but because of the long story of suffering he told; and further that it was not stopped out of his wages.

His honour gave a verdict for the plaintiff, awarding £30 damages and costs. A stay of execution of seven days was granted.

In 1911 the family is living at 29 Devonshire Street, Chorlton on Medlock, Manchester. His father is a 43 year old bricksetter, his mother is 45 years of age. His parents state that they have been married for 20 years and have had 10 children, eight of whom have survived. Decimus is one of eight children in the household, he is aged18, and is employed as a paper seller, Emma is a 16 year old balloon maker, Lucy aged 14, Elsie aged 12, Mary aged 9, and Thomas Henry are all in school. Frank aged 5 and Charles aged 2 are at home.

Decimus Neal originally enlisted into the Manchester Regiment as Private 1871. He was transferred to the 19th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 52099. He died of wounds on 12th April 1917, aged 23.

He now rests at Warlincourt Halte British Cemetery in France.

The site of the cemetery was chosen in May 1916. It was used from June 1916 to May 1917 by the 20th and 43rd Casualty Clearing Stations, in February 1917 by the 1/1st South Midland, and from April to June 1917 by the 32nd. The whole of plots VII, VIII, IX and X were filled in April and May 1917, the months of the Battles of Arras. From June 1917, the cemetery was practically unused until the fighting of May and June 1918, when field ambulances buried in it. After the Armistice the cemetery was increased by graves brought in from other smaller cemeteries.

The cemetery now contains 1,266 Commonwealth burials of the First World War. There are also 29 German and two French war graves.

The cemetery was designed by Charles Holden.

His loss was not the only grievous loss to the family in 1917. His father was “deemed to have enlisted” in the Royal Engineers on 24th June 1916, and was called up for service, in a Pioneer battalion, on 12th October 1917. He died, aged 51, of heart failure and pneumonia at the Military Hospital in Sandwich on the 20th January 1918. His wife was with him when he died. He now rests in Manchester Southern Cemetery.

Decimus earned his two medals.

Soldiers Effects, Army Pay of £2 17s 11d and a War Gratuity of £12 10s went to his mother Phoebe. His pension record does not show any award, address 39 Clare Street, Chorlton.

The tablet reads:-

321195 PIONEER D. Neal

Royal Engineers 20. 1. 1918

His father’s Soldiers Effects, Army Pay of £5 10s 7d and a War Gratuity of £12 10s went to his widow Phoebe.

Decimus' death was reported in the Manchester Evening News on Friday 12th April 1918;

NEAL. - In loving memory of Private D. NEAL, 19th King's Liverpools, late of 7th Manchester Territorials, died of wounds, C.C., France, April 12, 1917; also father of above, Sapper D. NEAL. died new Military Hospital, Sandwich, January 20, 1918.

Sadly missed by MOTHER, SISTERS, BROTHERS: also BROTHER in France and SON-IN-LAW in Italy, and NELLIE and ETHEL. -39, Clare-st., C.-on-M., Manchester.

We mourn for them in silence,

But with no outward show;

The heart that mourns sincerely

Beats silently and low.

Two of the best

On the 1921 Census at 39 Clare Street, mother Phoebe is aged 54, Elsie 23, Mary 20, Thomas 17, Charles 12, and married daughter Lucy Leonard 24, and family.

His mother died, aged 66, in 1933.

Her death was reported in the Manchester Evening News on Wednesday 18th January 1933;

NEAL. - On the 17th January, at 39, Clare-street, C.-on-M., PHOEBE, beloved widow of the late Decimus NEAL, aged 66 years. All inquiries to Messrs. James C. Broome. Downing-street, Manchester. Phone 2902 Ardwick.

We currently have no further information on Decimus Neal, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.

Killed On This Day.

(108 Years this day)
Tuesday 30th April 1918.
L/Cpl 29203 Valentine Alexander
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Tuesday 30th April 1918.
Pte 27948 Joseph Atherton
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(108 Years this day)
Tuesday 30th April 1918.
Pte 51896 Richard Edward Banks
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(108 Years this day)
Tuesday 30th April 1918.
Pte 46630 Watson Bell
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(108 Years this day)
Tuesday 30th April 1918.
Lieut Roland Henry Brewerton
27 years old

(108 Years this day)
Tuesday 30th April 1918.
Pte 51708 Charles Norman Dod
21 years old

(108 Years this day)
Tuesday 30th April 1918.
L/Cpl 94246 Frank Emison
24 years old

(108 Years this day)
Tuesday 30th April 1918.
Pte 23056 John William Jones
27 years old

(108 Years this day)
Tuesday 30th April 1918.
Pte 49572 John Henry Leadbeater (MM)
27 years old

(108 Years this day)
Tuesday 30th April 1918.
Sgt 22462 James Lowe (MID)
25 years old

(108 Years this day)
Tuesday 30th April 1918.
Pte 51712 Edgar Domenico Murray
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(108 Years this day)
Tuesday 30th April 1918.
Pte 269899 Harry Pitts
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A total of 14 Pals were killed on this day. View All