Old Hulmeians War Memorial 1914

GEOFFREY WILLIAM NEILL

22 September 1896 - 8 June 1918

At School 1905 - 1914

Lieut 6th Leinster Regt attd Royal Air Force

Geoffrey was born in Marple, Cheshire and, in 1901, aged 4, was living at 29 Orchard Road, St Annes on Sea, near Blackpool, with father John, a Lithographic Printer, mother Mary, elder sister Kathleen, younger brother Dennis, grandfather James, also a lithographic printer, and one domestic servant. By 1911 the family had moved to 52 Albert Road, Whalley Range and Geoffrey was attending School. He had entered School on September 1905 , aged 8, from Mrs Simpson's (Withington Road).

At School Geoffrey excelled both academically and at sport and contributed fully to School life being on the committee of the newly formed Scientific Society in 1911 and taking an active role in the Literary and Debating Society. Aged 12, he made his debut on the School 1st Lacrosse team in 1908, being described at first home as "A neat crosse handler, but a poor shot", and in 1910 "A good crosse handler, but finishes badly." In that year he starred for the Under 14 cricket eleven posting some good scores and taking over 30 wickets in 8 games. In 1911 his lacrosse pen picture stated "Wing Attack-A very neat crosse handler, but rather slow, and ought to practice sprinting."

He was appointed prefect in September 1911 and received his Lacrosse cap at the end of the 1911-12 season. Now playing at centre and vice captain he was described as "A strong and bustling centre, but rather inclined to hold the ball too long; ought to practice sprinting." There was always a "but" in those pen pictures!

In 1912, he passed the Joint Matriculation Examination in the First Division, winning a Manchester Education Committee senior school scholarship, and was awarded his first eleven cricket cap. He also won the prize for general form work in Science VI and the Davies-Colley History Prize. He topped the bowling averages in 1912, 1913 and 1914 and also topped the batting averages in 1913. In this year he also won the prize for general form work in Science VI and Mathematics.

In September 1913 he was appointed senior prefect, Captain of Lacrosse, Vice-captain of Football and Captain of Cricket - "Has looked after the team well and made a very good captain. Our best bowler and a reliable bat", while at lacrosse - "A strong and efficient centre, a skilful crosse handler, and a good shot. Has made a good and keen captain" No buts here but in football - "Very erratic; kicks weakly at times, but puts plenty of energy into his tackling."

Geoffrey left School in July 1914 with a Leaving Exhibition of £20 tenable for three years, and prizes for general form work in Science VI, "Optional German" and Mathematics.

He enrolled as a Chemistry student at Manchester University and was a member of the O.T.C. from October to December 1914.

In September 1914 he applied for a temporary commission in "any Irish Regiment" and was medically examined in Manchester on 29th September. Height 71¾", Weight 15 stone 5 lbs, Hearing good, Teeth good, Eyesight 6:6, Fitness : Fit. He was Gazetted as a Temporary Second Lieutenant on 2nd December 1914 and posted to the 6th Leinster Regiment.

According to his service record, Geoffrey joined his battalion on 15th October 1915 at Gallipoli. On the 16th he was promoted to

Temporary Lieutenant and moved with the Battalion to Salonika. On 26th February 1916, he applied to be considered for appointment to a permanent commission in the Regular Army and noted on the form that his father John was a Gentleman and of Irish family. This was looked on favourably, his Commanding Officer stating that "he did good work as a Scout and Intelligence Officer. He was granted a commission in the Regular Army on 17th February 1917 to retain seniority in higher rank until ordered to join regular unit.

In Salonika, the battalion spent much of 1916 around the defensive perimeter that protected the town from the threat of the Bulgarians, which fortunately never materialised. During 1917 the Battalion took its turn manning the front-line positions, although there was only low-level activity from both sides. Raiding and reconnaissance parties were sent out and during this time Geoffrey earned the Military Cross "For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He went forward alone under heavy fire to reconnoitre an enemy post, and succeeded in capturing two prisoners".

In September 1917 the Battalion was ordered to move to Egypt for service in Palestine.

In November, Geoffrey transferred to the Royal Flying Corps and was posted to the Military School of Aeronautics in Heliopolis. Following a spell in hospital suffering from influenza, Geoffrey was then posted to the 2nd Pilot Training Squadron in Aboukir on 25th February 1918 and from there to 58th Training Squadron on 12th March 1918 and finally to 57th Training Squadron on 31st March 1918.

On 8th June 1918, Geoffrey was tragically killed in an accidental collision over the desert at Abu-Souer, near Ismailia, with an Avro, piloted by Sgt. C F McHenry of 195 Training Squadron. They were both killed and buried in Ismailia War Memorial Cemetery, Geoffrey in Plot B Grave 120 and Sgt. McHenry in Plot B Grave 137.

THE HULMEIAN – July 1918

Old Hulmeians and the War

Deaths

Lieutenant G W NEILL, MC., of the Leinster Regiment (attached Royal Air Force), was reported last month to have died as a result of an accident while flying in Egypt. Lieutenant Neill was the son of Mr J Neill, of James Neill & Sons, of Cumberland Street, Manchester. He won the Military Cross about twelve months ago for a scouting exploit in Macedonia. He obtained a commission in December, 1914. Lieutenant Neill served in the Dardanelles and throughout the Serbian retreat, and later in Palestine. He was then transferred to the Royal Air Force. He is still well remembered at School by many boys. He came in September, 1905, and left with a leaving scholarship for the University at Midsummer, 1914. He was senior prefect, and captain of lacrosse 1912-14, and cricket captain in 1914.

Manchester University Biography

Geoffrey William Neill

Lieutenant, M.C., Royal Air Force.

Died in a flying accident 8th June 1918, aged 21.

Buried at Ismailia War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt.

Student of chemistry.

Geoffrey was born in 1896 at Marple to John Neill. He was educated at Hulme Grammar School and entered Manchester University in 1914 to study chemistry. During his short time at the University he was a member of the University Officer Training Corps. He was gazetted on 2nd December 1914 to 6th Battalion Leinster Regiment and served in Gallipoli, Serbia, and Palestine and gained a Military Cross. He transferred to the Royal Air Force as an aerial observer and was killed in an air collision in June 1918 at Abu-Souer, Egypt.

Old Hulmeians War Memorial 1914 - 1919