A Fine Collection of Medals to Officers Who Died During The Two World Wars

Three: Captain L. J. N. Neville, Royal Engineers, mortally wounded at Kemmel on 30 November 1914, by a single bullet, which after passing through his chest lodged in the heart of another officer

1914 Star (Capt., R.E.); British War and Victory Medals (Capt.); together with an attractive hand painted portrait miniature of recipient in uniform, painted on ivory, this contained in it’s original fitted leather carrying case, nearly extremely fine (4) £400-450

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Fine Collection of Medals to Officers Who Died During The Two World Wars.

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See Colour Plate IV

Lionel John Neville Neville was born at Calcutta on 5 March 1878; and educated at Charterhouse, before passing into the R.M.A., Woolwich in 1895, from where he received a commission in the Royal Engineers in September 1897. He was promoted Lieutenant in September 1900, and took part in the South African War 1900-02 (entitled to Q.S.A., 3 clasps & K.S.A., 2 clasps). He was promoted Captain in September 1906, and to his Majority in October 1914, but his promotion was not gazetted until January 1915, after his death.

In October 1914, he went to Boulogne with other Royal Engineers and Royal Army Medical Corps officers to organise base hospitals, and was largely responsible for the organisation, adaption, and equipment of the Maritime Hospital on the Quay, the Casino Hospital, and other hospitals in Boulogne and Wimereux. In November he was sent to the front to join the 5th Field Company, R.E., and on the last day of the month was transferred to the 56th Company. Within an hour of his arrival on duty in the firing zone at Kemmel, he was wounded by a chance bullet, which after passing through his chest lodged in the heart of his brother officer, Captain C. G. Moores, R.E. He himself chose to be nursed in the Casino Hospital, which hospital he had helped to establish, here he died on 17 December 1914. His body was returned to England, and he was buried at Sloley, Norfolk, with military honours on 22 December 1914.