In memory of my Nevill relatives who died in the Great War

I am posting this now rather than on 11 November, as I won’t have access to a computer on that day.

They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old:

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning

We will remember them.

My five Nevill relatives, described in the rest of this post, are the only relations who died in World War I that I have so far identified.

Major Hugh Lewis Nevill

Born 24 Jul 1877, the son of Hugh Nevill

Commissioned in the Royal Artillery 1897

Served in the Boer War

In World War I served in France and the Dardanelles

Decorations: DSO and Queen’s Medal with 4 clasps (all from Boer War)

Killed in action on 7 August 1915 during the landing at Gallipoli

Buried at Lala Baba Cemetery, Turkey; grave reference II. D. 5.

References: The Times 16 Aug 1915  p5 colG and Commonwealth War Graves Commission listing

Captain Wilfred Percy Nevill

Born 1894

Commissioned as a 2nd Lieutentant in November 1914 & posted to the 8th Battalion, East Surrey Regiment

Killed in action on 1 July 1916, on the first day of the Somme offensive

Wilfred is famous for being the officer who bought four footballs for his men to kick forward as they went over the top. He planned to award a prize to the one who kicked the ball the furthest into no-man’s land. Wilfred was killed during this initial advance, so no prize was awarded. Two of the footballs survived and are now in museums (one at the National Army Museum).

Reference: Commonwealth War Graves Commission listing

Private Clive Nevill

Born about 1894, the son of Leonard & Edith Nevill

Enlisted in the Royal Fusiliers, 8th Battalion

Killed in action on 7 October 1916 on the Somme

Buried: has no known grave

Commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Pier & Face 8 C 9 A & 16A

Reference: Commonwealth War Graves Commission listing

Lieutenant Cuthbert St John Nevill

Born about 1889, the son of Walter Palmer Nevill & Elizabeth Nevill

Enlisted in the Royal Field Artillary, serving with ”C” Battery, 251st Brigade

Died 18 April 1918, probably on the Bethune front

Buried at Chocques Military Cemetery, France, grave reference III. A. 1.

Reference: Commonwealth War Graves Commission listing

Lieutenant Ralph Nevill

Born 25 June 1890, the  son of Sydney and Margaret L Nevill   

Emigrated to Canada in 1905

Enlisted in March 1916 and joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force, 107th Overseas Battalion

Decorations: MC

Died near Arras 30 September 1918

Buried at Bucquoy Road Cemetery, Ficheux, France; grave reference III. C. 13.

Reference: Commonwealth War Graves Commission listing