Blackman Info 6d: the Neely family |
Ernest James NEELY (Ern) - Ernest and Charlotte's first child
| Ernest James was born on 16 October 1881. (Vic BMD 20975/1881 as Nealy) in Ballarat. In 1908 he married Margaret HENWOOD (Vic BMD 9557/1908). There is no obvious birth FOR Margaret, but she died in Queensland in 1935 (Qld BMD 1935/B027079). |  |
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| Above: An announcement in the Ballarat Courier of
18 October 1881
Right: Ernest James NEELY Courtesy: Llyris Hill - with thanks |
| Ernest James' home at the time of his death; the third Neely home in Moleswoth
Street and the only one to survive until today. Thomas CALDWELL also lived in the street
across Curzon Street.
Right: 4 Molesworth Street, North Melbourne |
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The Australian Electoral Roll 1903-1977, available on Ancestry, records their homes and occupations in 1912 as:
Another Ernest James and Margaret is recorded in 1912, but with no Charlotte:
Sands & McDougall's directory of Victoria 1915 records an Ernest J NEELY living at 201 Abbotsford st., North Melbourne, rather than 207, which doesn't appear on a modern map. Number 201 appears to be grand red-bricked market hall type building. It appears that 201 Abbotsford Street was the home of Ern's mother-in-law Katherine HENWOOD and Margaret's brother Reginald. It is possibly Margaret is sharing her parent's house and with her parents helping to look after the two children, and being close to the children's other grandmother, Charlotte Neely.
Ernest was Intestate when he died on 27 June 1917 (Vic BMD 5259/1917 as Keely). The Probate Jurisdiction was on 16th August 1917. After costs, his estate was 194 pounds, one shilling and 11 pence. He and his wife Margaret NEELY née HENWOOD of North Fitzroy, had two infant daughters Beryl Mary (May) NEELY and Ivy Margaret NEELY, both in the care of the Department for Neglected Children.
| SCHEDULE B. | ||
| DEATHS in the District of | North Melbourne | in the Colony |
| No. | DESCRIPTION | (1)Cause of death (2)Duration of last illness (3)Medical Attendant by whom certified, and (4)When he last saw the Deceased |
Name
and Surname of Father and Mother (Maiden Name), if known with Rank or Profession |
||
| Where and When Died. | Name and Surname,
Rank or Profession. |
Sex and Age. | |||
| 5 5 5 9 |
27th June 1917 4 Molesworth Street Hopetown Ward Melbourne City County of Bourke |
Ernest James Neely Car builder |
Male 35 years |
Cerebral Haemorrhage 7 years |
Ernest Alexander Neely Employee at Railways Charlotte Neely formerly Blackman |
| SCHEDULE B. | |
| of Victoria | Register by |
|
Signature, Description and Residence of Informant |
(1)
Signature of Registrar (2) Date and (3) Where Registered |
IF BURIAL REGISTERED | Where Born and how long in the Australian States, stating which |
IF DECEASED WAS MARRIED | ||
| When and where buried
Undertaker by whom certified |
Name and Reli- gion of Minister or Name of Witnesses of Burial |
(1) Where and what (2) Age and to (3)Whom |
Issue, in order of Birth, the Names and Ages. |
|||
| S Neely Brother Bass Gippsland |
HM Berry 28th June 1917 |
29th June 1917 New Melbourne Cemetery J Allison |
H Allison HV Kelly | Ballarat Victoria 35 years Victoria |
Not known Victoria |
Beryl May 7 Ivy Margaret 4 |
| Right: Ernest James Neely's death notice in The Argus of 03 July
1917
In 1905-1915 the Newport Railway works expanded for the building of carriages, wagons and locomotive building. (Wiki) |
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| Right: Ernest James NEELY's grave at Fawkner Memorial Park in a Church
of England plot F. Grave 92 Certificate and photo - with thanks to Vivian Bugden |
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The family posted a poignant memorial in The Age: one of very many that Saturday.
Left: The Age 10 August 1918 |
The sad life of Margaret NEELY, née HENWOOD
Broadly, Margaret NEELY died of methylated spirits poisoning as a hard core rough sleeping alcoholic found dead on the Victoria Park golf link, Brisbane, at 3.45pm on 15 March 1935. The coroner said she had been dead for three days. Witness Austin STANLEY, a seaman, said he knew Margaret NEELY in Melbourne in 1921 and they had moved from Sydney to Townsville, Queensland in 1930. However, he sent Margaret back to Melbourne because she was addicted to drink. He later sent her the fare from Melbourne to Brisbane. Sometimes Margaret NEELY was known as Margaret STANLEY, but at the time of the inquest they were not living together. STANLEY knew Margaret was living at the south side of the city. He knew her husband had died 20 years ago. At a date after 16 March STANLEY defrayed the cost of Margaret's funeral and had written to her mother, who had replied.
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| VICTORIA
PARK "METHO" ORGIES
Revelations at Inquest into Woman's Death Favorite Beverage when Nothing Else is Offering IN the Coroner's Court to-day a Victoria Park camper gave an insight into open-air methylated spirits orgies, in which women drank their share of the fire water. Four regulars who knocked about the park to solicit men drank methylated spirits whenever they could not get anything else. Some of them slept in the park all the time. QUESTIONED about men-camped in the park, Constable J. Sullivan said that most of them also drank "metho" when nothing else was available. The Deputy Coroner (Mr. M. J. Hickey, Acting P.M.) held an inquest Into the death of Margaret Neely, otherwise Margaret Stanley (47), widow, with no fixed place of abode, who was found dead on the Victoria Park golf links at 3.45 p.m. on March 15. (1935) Acting-sergeant T. Long examined the witnesses. Peter Michael Brooks, laborer, at present camping in the Police Paddock, Kelvin Grove, said he had often seen Margaret Stanley drinking with men in Victoria Park. Mostly she drank |
methylated
spirit.
Both Were Drunk. About 8 p.m. on Mar Boyce. Margaret Stanley was with Boyce, and both were drunk. Boyce said he had missed his rations and wanted to borrow 1s (one shilling) from witness. "Have you had anything to eat to day?" witness asked the woman. She replied, "Nothing all day." "If you come with me I will give you a feed, said witness. She replied, "Certainly." They stopped at the golf links, and he returned to his camp to get some sandwiches. "Don't forget to bring back something to drink," the woman said before witness left. Witness told her he had nothing at the camp, but that probably he could get some methylated spirits. "That will do," she said. Witness got some egg sandwiches from his camp, and borrowed about half a pint of methylated spirits from a neighbor. He returned to where the woman was and offered her the sandwiches. "Metho" And Water. "She said she wanted a drink,'' said witness. "I gave her a drink of the methylated spirits mixed with water. I brought a bottle of water with me." Witness said he remained with her until about 11.30 p.m. She had a couple more drinks of methylated spirits before he left her. Acting-sergeant Long: Did you |
have some of the
methylated spirits?
Witness: I had a drink myself. I took half of what I brought back with me to the camp. "She did not complain of being sick," said witness. "She was only drunk. She said she was tired and wanted to sleep." Next Morning. Witness said he saw the woman next morning at 6 o'clock. She was where he had left her the previous night. She said she was very sick. He went to Boyce's camp, Boyce was drunk. Boyce started complaining that witness took his girl from him. He told Boyce where the woman was. Then he left the park. Returning an hour later witness saw the woman sitting in the same place, and Boyce was sitting alongside her. Gave The Woman A Wash. Between 11 a.m. and noon witness again went to where the woman and Boyce were. Boyce's vest was on the ground; also the woman's shoes and stockings. There was a tin of water there. "It's Home, Sweet Home," said wit-ness, but Boyce did not pay any attention to what he said. He stated that he had given the woman a wash. Witness next saw the woman about 3 p.m. She was groaning, and her face was discolored. That night Boyce came to his camp and told him the woman was dead. He said she was found dead about 3.30 p.m. |
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Acting-sergeant Long pointed out lo witness that Dr. Duhlg, who performed the
post mortem, said she had been dead 48 hours.
Witness said that must be a mistake, because he saw the woman groaning about 3 p.m. Acting-sergeant Long reminded the witness that the body was covered with ants when found, and that it was apparent the woman had been dead for some time. Witness still maintained he heard the woman groaning about 3 p.m. Acting Sergeant Long: Is it true you induced, her away from Boyce's camp on the Thursday night? - It is as I have said; I offered her some food. Did you invite her up to your camp? - -No. Other Women. In reply to Acting Sergeant Long witness said he knew of four other women who frequented the park. Some of them slept in the park all the time. Are they addicted to methylated spirits? - Whenever they cannot get anything else they do drink methylated spirits. To the Deputy Coroner: One woman lived in the park constantly. She slept under trees. She had been doing that to witness's knowledge for about three years. The other three came to the park nearly every night and every day. They solicited men, but did not go to the camps. They slept in Victoria Park and Albert Park. Seaman's Evidence: Austin Stanley, seaman, 550 Boundary-street, Spring Hill, |
said he first knew Margaret Neely In Melbourne, 12 years ago. "They came to
Queensland five years ago at his suggestion, and had lived as man and wife for about
six years. He understood from her that her husband had died about 20 years ago.
She went with him from Sydney to Townsville, but he sent her bark to Melbourne, because she was addicted to drink. He later sent her fare from Melbourne to Brisbane. They did not live together, she living at the South side of the city. He saw her infrequently, sometimes daily and then not for weeks together. Witness said he would not live with her unless she mended her ways. He last saw her alive six weeks ago, when she said she had a place as domestic at Hendra. [A suburb of Brisbane.] On the afternoon of that day he saw her on to a tram. The police on March 16 asked him to identify her body. Later, he defrayed the funeral expenses, and had written to the deceased's mother who had replied. He did not think there was anything suspicious about her death. Constable Who Found Her. Police Constable James Graham Sullivan, attached to Kelvin Grove Station, said that on March 15, at 3.30 p.m., the caretaker of the golf links at Victoria Park telephoned there was a man and woman In the park and the latter appeared to be very sick. Witness went there and found the woman lying on the ground. An old can and mug were beside her on the ground. Her face |
was almost black, and ants covered
her bare legs. He saw that she was dead. The deputy -coroner ordered the removal of
the body and a post-mortem.
Dr. Duhig had said that the deceased had been dead about 30 hours before the body was found by the constable. Witness stated there were no signs of struggle where she was found; she was exposed to the sun. He inter-viewed a man named John Boyce and the witness Brooks. Boyce was under the influence of methylated spirits, and was practically in "the horrors." Mr. Brooks was interviewed on another day by the witness, who had known him for over two years. He, too, drank methylated spirits, but it did not show on him as on Boyce. It had been impossible to find out whether deceased and Brooks were at Boyce's camp on the night of March 14. "Meth." Spirits Addicts. There were, said witness, about 70 men camped in the University paddock or the police paddock, but few in Victoria Park. Three months ago one woman had been living there. Most of the men drank "meth." spirits when they could not get anything else. He had found that prior to going to the park the deceased was in the Women's Shelter, Boundary-street. Acting-sergeant Long said that the man Boyce had not been located. The inquiry was adjourned to a date to be fixed. |
Source: Trove (Accessed: 08 June 2020)
Another witness was John Boyce an unemployed miner or Wellington Street, Petrie Terrace, Brisbane.
This would explain why Ern and Margaret's children were taken into care.
Queensland BMD records the death of Margaret STANLEY on 15/3/1935 (Qld BMD 1935/C/714). Her mother was Catherine Mary STRICKLAND and her father Charles HENWOOD.
The Electoral Roll for 1934 records:
Beryl May - the Maltby's first child
Beryl May was born in 1910 (Vic BMD 194812/1910) and married William James MALTBY, of Taradale, in 1933 (Vic BMD 1207/1933), who was born in 1910 in Castlemaine (Vic BMD 15161/1910). William James died in Castlemaine in 1986 (Vic BMD 8380/1986) and Beryl May the same year (Vic BMD 8380/1986). Both are buried in Chewton Cemetery.
The following report may account for the children being with the Department for Neglected Children. The child mention is likely to be Beryl, who would be five at the time.
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| A VIOLENT
WOMAN. STRUGGLE ON ROADWAY WITH CONSTABLE. The conduct of a women created half an hour's sensation in Sydney-road, Brunswick, Victoria, on Saturday evening (say the "Argus"). At a part of the road where there is a deep decline a woman, evidently under the influence of liquor, repeatedly rushed into the middle of the street in front of motor-cars, tram-cars, and other vehicles, and placed herself in imminent danger of being struck down. Quite a number of drivers had to bring the vehicles they were driving to a sudden stand-still in order to avoid what must have been a serious accident. Not only did the woman by her foolish conduct jeopardise her own life, but on each of her mad rushes into the |
roadway she dragged with her a little girl of about 8 years, who cried piteously, and implored her mother to "come home to daddy." On one of the trams held up by the woman, Constable A. C. McDonald, of Russell-street, was a passenger. As the woman refused to move off the line, the constable wan compelled to take a hand in the proceedings. He at first coaxed the woman, but was forced to adopt more vigorous measures. Very soon she was attacking the constable with tigerish ferocity. She lay down and kicked, and at every endeavor to put her on her feet she scratched and bit spitefully. Her hat pins were freely used, and the constable had at least one very narrow escape from serious injury. No sooner was she lifted to her feet than she would fall down and | roll in the dusty road. In a very short space of time a crowd of 200 persons had gathered, but not one of the men there went to the assistance of the constable, who was handicapped by reason of the fact that his adversary was a woman. The crowd soon blocked the tram traffic. Three tramway officials then gave Constable McDonald a hand. It was with the utmost difficulty, and not till she was stripped from the neck to the waist, that the woman was placed on a tram-car. She struggled all the way to Brunswick, police-station, and it took four men to carry her into the cell. The woman refused to give her name, but it was subsequently ascertained that she was Margaret Neely, married woman, living at 187 Abbotsford-street, North Melbourne. |
Source: Heather Schoffelen from Trove page 8 (Accessed: 08 June 2020)
The Australian Electoral Roll 1903-1977, available on Ancestry, records their homes and occupations in 1934-37 as:
In 1942-72 there were several Maltby's living in Chewton.
In 1977-80 there was a change of address and William James was without a job:
William James died in Castlemaine in 1986 (Vic BMD 8380/1986). Beryl died on 15 February 2007 at Mt. Alexander Hospital, Castlemaine aged 97. She was the mother of Shirley and Yvonne, grandmother to three, great grandmother to six and great great grandmother to one. (Source: Herald Sun 20 February 2007)
Ivy Margaret - the Maltby's second child
Ivy Margaret NEELY was born in 1912 (Vic BMD 31097/1912) and married Frederick Charles BROOKER in 1933 (Vic BMD 9835/1933). He was born on 07 September 1908 in Greenwich/Woolwich, England (GRO ref: Woolwich 1d 1203 - military record) and served in Malaya with 2/10 Ordnance, as VX59928,
1911 Census: Sun/Mon 2nd April/3rd April 1911
Source: TNA Ref: RG14 PN
Reg. Gen. Ref: RG78 PN 30; En.Dist: 05; Sched: 263
RegDist: Woolwich SubDist: Charlton
Dwelling: 2 Ryes Cottage, Anchor Hope Lane
Place: Charlton SE London
Rooms in dwelling, other than scullery, landing, lobby, closet, bathroom: 3
Years married: 7
Children: Alive 4, dead none
Name Rel Mar Age Occupation Status Birthplace
George Edward Brooker Head M 28 General labourer Worker Berks, Wallingford
Paint manufacture
Alice Maud Brooker Wife M 25 Norfolk, Grimston
George William Brooker Son S 6 Kent, Charlton
Ethel Brooker Dau S 4 Kent, Charlton
Frederick Charles Brooker Son S 2 Kent, Charlton
Daisy Alice Brooker Dau S 6mn Kent, Charlton
Anchor Hope Lane, Charlton is 370m south of the River Thames adjacent to the Thames Barrier and between the Greenwich peninsular and Woolwich.
| In 1941, Frederick Charles' Attestation Form gives his and Ivy's address
as 104 Mill Street, Albert Park. His civilian occupation of 'turner' with an
English technical qualification. He had a reserved occupation but was appropriate to
2/10 Ordnance. His Attestation Form is endorsed letters 'C/O Mrs Maltby, Main st.,
Chewton'. He went to Singapore as a TG II Armourer in 2/10 Australian Advanced
Ordnance Workshop on 10 January 1942 with the rank of corporal armourer from 02
February 1942. He was part of the 8th Australian's Division's capitulation in
Singapore on 15 February 1942 when he became a POW at camp PWM No 3 in Siam
(Thailand). On 02 June 1945 Fred transferred to Fukuoka, Japan, north-east of
Nagasaki where the atomic bomb was dropped on 09 August 1945. This is probably the
Fukuoka 17 camp whose last group of prisoners to arrive in June 1945 were all
Australian who worked in the Mitsui coal mine. The camp was liberated on 2 September
1945, by which time most of the POWs were in a desperate state of health and on
average had lost about 27kg. Camp survivors were evacuated via the destroyed Nagasaki
about ten days after liberation.
Fred was overseas for 1365 days, returning to Australia on 05 November 1945 and was discharged on 29 January 1946. Right: Frederick Charles Brooker from his 1941 Attestation papers Additional source: The Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial (Accessed: 21 May 2020) |
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The Australian Electoral Roll 1903-1977, available on Ancestry, records their homes and occupations in 1935 as:
in 1936-37 as:
In 1941 Frederick Charles was recorded at:
1n 1943 Ivy Margaret was living alone:
Neither seems to be entered later than this.
Ivy Margaret died on 01 November 2000. Frederick Charles death is not recorded in VicBMD.
With thanks to Heather Schoffelen for the research.
Sydney John NEELY (Syd) - Ernest and Charlotte's second child
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Vic BMD offers a Sydney John NEELY marring Caroline Esther SNOWDEN in 1952
(Vic BMD 18495/1952).
Though Sydney was described as married on his death certificate, there is no
indication within the Rolls of Sydney and Caroline living together. There were no
other Neelys recorded at Sydney's addresses.
Left: Thought to be Sydney John Neely Courtesy: Llyris Hill |
The Australian Electoral Roll 1903-1977, available on Ancestry, records the homes and occupations of Sydney John NEELY in 1912 as:
until the 1924-34 Rolls when there was a change of occupation:
The 1931-34 Rolls suggest a new plot of land had been acquired within Bass:
In 1937 Sydney moved 325km from Bass to Benalla:
In 1942-49 Sydney moved within Benella:
In 1963 there was another change of address but no occupation:
In 1967-68 he was a hospital employee living at the hospital with Caroline else where:
and 1968 where she lived until the last Electoral Roll in 1972.:
| THIRD SCHEDULE |
| DEATH IN THE STATE OF VICTORIA |
| Registered by Mervyn Brian van GEYZEL |
| 1 No | No 23080 /68 |
Description - 2(1) When and where died (2) Usual place of residence 3 Name and Surname Occupation 4 Sex and age |
18th September, 1968,
Benalla, Benalla, Sydney John NEELY, Labourer Male, 85 years |
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5(1) Cause of death and duration of last illness (2) Legally qualified medical practitioner by whom certified and when he last saw deceased |
Coronary
occlusion - 10 days Arteriosclerosis - years Diabetes - 5 years C. Batten, 17 September, 1968 |
| 6 Name and surname of Father and Mother (maiden name, if known), with Occupation | Ernest Neely, Maiden name Blackman, Labourer. |
| 7 Signature, Description and Residence of Informant | Certified by R.T.Meadows, 49 Smythe Street, Benalla. |
| 8 (1) Signature of Registration
Officer (2) Date and (3) Where registered |
Signed 2nd October, 1968. Melbourne |
| If burial registered 9 When and where buried Undertaker by whom certified 10 Name and Religion of Minister or names of Witnesses of burial |
20th September, 1968, Benalla Cemetery, E. Abbott E. Payne-Croston, Church of England |
| 11 Where born and how long in the Australian States, stating which | Ballarat East, Victoria, 85 years in Victoria. |
| If deceased was married - 12 (1) Where and (2) At what age and (3) To whom (4) Conjugal Condition at Date of Death 13 Issue in Order of Birth, the Name and ages |
Melbourne, Victoria, 60 years, Unknown, Married Unknown |
With thanks to Vivian Bugden.
| Sydney John NEILY (sic) was interred in Benalla Cemetery on Wednesday 18 September
1968 in Section D Plot 7, aged 85 years. His wife, Caroline Esther was buried on 06
July 1976 in the Church of England C Section, grave 3264 of Footscray General Cemetery.
Right: Sydney John NEELY's headstone. With thanks to Heather Schoffelen and Digger |
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James NEELY (Jim)- Ernest and Charlotte's third child
John NEELY (Jack) - Ernest and Charlotte's fourth child
Charlotte May NEELY (May) - Ernest and Charlotte's fifth child
Charlotte May NEELY, known as May, was born on 24 May 1891 (Vic BMD 24078/1891) in Hotham West. In 1920 she married Edward Edgar MARTIN (Vic BMD 11702/1920) of Sandhurst, Victoria, as May Charlotte. Edward died on 20 November 1934 (NSW BMD 22322/1934) after living 44 years in Marrickville, Sydney, NSW. Charlotte May died on 21 December 1971 (NSW BMD 43620/1972) in Bankstown, Sydney, NSW and was buried at Woronora Memorial Park, Plot FF Rose Garden 16, 0016, Sutherland, NSW. In 1945 Edgar was a linesman PM9.
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| Above: May Charlotte Neely | Above: Edward Martin |
| Source: Vivian Bugden | |
The Australian Electoral Roll 1903-1977 records the Martin's homes and occupations in 1930-54 as:
When May's daughter moved to Beverley Hills, May moved too. The 1968 Roll records:
Charlotte May died at home in Beverly Hills on 21 December 1971 (NSW BMD 43620/1972) but her death was registered at Bankstown. There is no obvious record of Edward Edgar MARTIN on 20 November 1934.
Edna Joyce MARTIN - May and Edward's only child
Their daughter, Edna Joyce MARTIN, was born on 09 December 1922 in Marrickville. Edna, a clerk also of 15 Central Avenue, Marrickville, married Frederick Robert (Bob) BULLIMAN, a drop hammer smith of 133 Meeks Road, Marrickville, on 27 October 1945 at St. Clements Church, Marrickville.
The Australian Electoral Roll 1903-1977, available on Ancestry, records Edna's homes and occupations in 1943 as:
On her marriage there was, in 1949-54, a change of address and with a continued female employment:
| Right: Edna Bulliman née Martin's home at 15 Central Avenue, Marrickville Courtesy: Llyris Hill
Both Llyris and Roslyn were born in Marrickville. The family remained in Marrickville until 1957 when they moved moved 10km to Beverly Hills, Sydney. Frederick Robert died at Broadbarrow Road on 06 June 1999, aged 77 years. Bob was cremated at Woronora Crematorium on 10 June 1999. |
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The Electoral Roll of 1963-68 records a change of address:
The Electoral Roll of 1977-80 introduces a child:
Hoverbox Photo Gallery - 22 Broadarrow Road, Beverly Hills, Sydney
This feature does not function correctly on phones and tablets
| 1 Circa 1965 Courtesy: Llyris Hill | 2 The bungalow in 2019 |
| 1. | 2. |
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In 2008 Edna moved to 16 Amundsen Avenue, Shoalhaven Heads, NSW.
Leonard William NEELY (Len) - Ernest and Charlotte's sixth child
| The Errol Street Honour Roll records Leonard working for R Collie & Son (not A
Collie) printing ink manufacturers of 194-6, Little Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
(Sands & MacDougall 1910) - a thirty minute walk from Molesworth Street.
Leonard enlisted, as a labourer, into 'B' Coy Infantry Base Depot in Keswick South Australia 1 on 12 March 1915. He was allocated to the 27/Bn, number 1547 before being transferred to the 1st Reinforcements 27/Bn and sent to Gallipoli. When in France he was severely wounded and transferred to ANZAC Light Railway, before being returned to Australia. Right: Studio photo of Leonard Neely Courtesy: Llyris Hill |
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A summary of Leonard NEELY's war record
The Anzac Light Railway doesn’t appear to have a War Diary. So far the only account has come from Edgar Rule’s Jacka’s Mob.
Colonel Fewtrell was in charge of the Anzac Light Railway; previously to this he had been in charge of the 4th Pioneers. He was a very smart man, and at this time (April 1917) our railway was a model for all railway units. During the Hun retirement back to the Hindenburg Line, it practically kept up with the advancing forces. This surprised even the Germans, and Fewtrell received great praise for it, but he was not popular with the attached infantry – it was difficult for any man be so under such circumstances. Although we were attached to the Anzac Light Railway, they in turn attached us to other units. 3
Edgar Rule had just come out of the line at Fluer. On 27 December 1916, he was warned, along with four others to move out from 14/Battalion to work on the light railway. Each battalion in 4/Division was sending five men in total to Meaulte, just south of Albert, and from there some 13km to Quarry Siding, not far from Bernafray Sidings on the Longueval to Montauban-de-Picardie road. Issued with hard rations and in the bitter cold and the even worse mud, the infantrymen went with a company of Pioneers into the middle of the desolate surroundings of Longueval. Hardly a day passed without it raining or snowing. They worked through the early dusk before returning to basic wet dugouts, where no one slept. It was simply hellish. Every night six shells were lobbed into the village and dugouts, though no one got the wind up, as they were thoroughly miserable.
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| Above: Longueval trench map 57cSW3 trenched correct 20 September 1916 showing the features described above Click on the map to open a scalable pdf map in a new window |
At Quarry Sidings, on the of the broad gauge, material was emptied from the big trucks into the small trucks. The men were involved in maintaining the light railway which started at Quarry Sidings, came up through Longueval, wound down through Delville Wood before reaching Fleur. Three men were expected to maintain about three hundred yards of railway track and no one was hurt doing it. The main trouble was the avenue carved by the railway through Delville Wood: an obvious target for the 8-inch gun. Generally, after a strafe there were a couple of holes to fill and rails to reconnect. This little line handled practically everything and was a great saving on horse transport.
It is easy to see why Leonard was susceptible to a septic foot.
| Right: The 142 bed HM Hospital Ship Jan Breydel 1910 |  |
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North Evington War Hospital, a World War 1 subsidiary hospital, is 3 miles
north-east of the present Leicester Royal Infirmary.
Left: 5th Northern General |
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| Above: Leonard Neely on the Errol Street honour roll With thanks to North Melbourne Primary School |
Leonard was awarded 14-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
The Australian Electoral Roll 1903-1977, available on Ancestry, records his homes and occupations in 1921 as:
In 1924 Charlotte was registered at 39 Molesworth Street where Len lived from 1928-39. He then lived with his mother until 1943 until four years after her death, but with a change of occupation
In 1949, with another change of occupation, Leonard moved 11km to a now redeveloped property in the Prahran area
where he lived until his retirement as shown by 'no occupation' until another 16km move to Moonee Ponds in 1958-63:
which was the home of his sister, where he lived in 1965. Between 1965 and 1967, the date of the Gallipoli Medal letter, Leonard moved to a bungalow home in Queensland, near the coast north of Brisbane, where he lived, until 1968:
Leonard died on 19 July 1982 in the War Veterans Home, Caboolture. But for Covid-19, the author would have been at the 2020 Caboolture Anzac Day Dawn Service, the parade of which started at Caboolture War Veterans Home, King Street. He would have been there to have commemorated the death of his paternal grandfather's cousin, John Henry Crompton, who enlisted from Elimbah and was Killed in Action with the 42nd Battalion at Broodseinde on 04 October 1917. He is commemorated on the Caboolture RSL memorial.
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Queensland DEATH CERTIFICATE |
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| Registration Number | 1982/54886 |
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DECEASED Name and Surname Occupation Sex and age Date of Death Place of Death Where born and, if not in Australia period of residence in Australia |
Leonard William Neely Male 89 years 19 July 1982 War Veterans Home, Caboolture Footscray, Victoria |
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PARENTS Name and surname of father Occupation Name and maiden name of mother |
Ernest Neely Charlotte Blackman |
| MARRIAGE(S) Where, at what age and to whom deceased was married |
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CHILDREN Name and ages |
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MEDICAL Cause of Death Duration of last illness Medical attendant by whom certified When he/she last saw the deceased |
1 Myocardial infarction 2 Diabetes mellitus 16 hours 2 years AJ Powell 19 July 1982 |
|
BURIAL OR CREMATION When or where buried or cremated By who certified Name and religion of minister and/or names of to witnesses of burial or cremation |
21 July 1982 Albany Creek Crematorium PD Cairns NP Chandler; L Thompson |
|
INFORMANT Name, description or relationship and residence |
JW Simpson, No Relation 14B Matthew Terrace, Caboolture |
| REGISTRAR Name, date and place of registration |
CJ Green 29 July 1982, Brisbane |
With thanks to Vivian Bugden
| Leonard's ashes were interred on 04 August 1982 in the Church of England
section C of Fawkner Memorial Park, Melbourne in Church of England C, grave 1310 in
the same plot as his sister Adelaide.
Right: Len NEELY's headstone |
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| On 01 August 1967, Leonard of 38 Bell Street, Clontarf Beach, Qld 4019 applied for Jack's Gallipoli Medallion. |
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End notes
Sources
Adelaide Lucy NEELY (Addie) - Ernest and Charlotte's seventh child
| Adelaide (Adelde) was born in 1896 (Vic BMD 282511896) In 1919 she married
John Thomas BURTON (Vic BMD 5141/1919), who was born in 1897 in Brunswick
(Vic BMD 9030/1897).
Right: Adelaide Neely on her wedding day 1919 Courtesy: Vivian Bugden |
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Hoverbox Photo Gallery - Adelaide Neely's wedding Courtesy:
Vivian Bugden
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tablets
| 1 Adelaide Neely and John Burton's wedding group 1919 | 2 John Thomas Burton from his wedding photo 1919 |
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The Australian Electoral Roll 1903-1977, available on Ancestry, records their homes and occupations in 1924 as:
In 1925, there was a change of address and occupation:
where they remained until the register of 1942 after which there are no records.
The Sands and McDougall street directories of Victoria record:
where it is assumed John and Adelaide died. In 1958 this was also the home of Leonard NEELY.
| John died in 1956 in Parkville (Vic BMD 9884/1956) and was buried in
Church of England F, grave 92 on 09 August 1956. Adelaide died on 09 March
1961 (Vic BMD 8925/1961)and her ashes were interred in the Church of England C
section of Fawkner Memorial Park grave 1310.
Right: Adelaide Burton's headstone |
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Credits With thanks to
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| This page was created by Richard Crompton and maintained by Chris Glass |
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Version A6 Updated 07 October 2023 |
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