Thomas Neely
Encyclopedia
Thomas Patrick Neely VC
MM
(28 March 1897- 1 October 1918) was an English
recipient of the Victoria Cross
, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British
and Commonwealth
forces.
in the 8th Battalion, The King's Own (Royal Lancaster) Regiment, British Army
during the First World War when the following deed took place at Flesquières
, France
during the battle of the Canal du Nord
for which he was awarded the VC.
Neely was killed three days later in action at Rumilly-en-Cambrésis
, just south of Cambrai
, France, on 1 October 1918. He was buried at Masnieres British Cemetery
in Marcoing
, France.
on 26 June 2010, together with Neely's other medals. Cheshire Police are investigating.
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
MM
Military Medal
The Military Medal was a military decoration awarded to personnel of the British Army and other services, and formerly also to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, below commissioned rank, for bravery in battle on land....
(28 March 1897- 1 October 1918) was an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
recipient of the Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and Commonwealth
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
forces.
Details
Neely was 21 years old, and a corporalCorporal
Corporal is a rank in use in some form by most militaries and by some police forces or other uniformed organizations. It is usually equivalent to NATO Rank Code OR-4....
in the 8th Battalion, The King's Own (Royal Lancaster) Regiment, British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
during the First World War when the following deed took place at Flesquières
Flesquières
Flesquières is a commune in the Nord department in northern France.-Heraldry:-References:*...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
during the battle of the Canal du Nord
Battle of the Canal du Nord
The Battle of Canal du Nord was part of a general Allied offensive against German positions on the Western Front during the Hundred Days Offensive of World War I. The battle took place in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France, along an incomplete portion of the Canal du Nord and on the outskirts...
for which he was awarded the VC.
Neely was killed three days later in action at Rumilly-en-Cambrésis
Rumilly-en-Cambrésis
-References:*...
, just south of Cambrai
Cambrai
Cambrai is a commune in the Nord department in northern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department.Cambrai is the seat of an archdiocese whose jurisdiction was immense during the Middle Ages. The territory of the Bishopric of Cambrai, roughly coinciding with the shire of Brabant, included...
, France, on 1 October 1918. He was buried at Masnieres British Cemetery
Masnieres British Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery
Masnieres British Cemetery is a small Commonwealth War Graves Commission burial site for British and Commonwealth troops killed during the First World War Battle of Cambrai between September–October 1918. It also contains a number of German graves, although these are mostly unidentified.The...
in Marcoing
Marcoing
-References:*...
, France.
Theft
The VC was kept within the family, handed down from generation to generation. In May 2010, it was handed to Neely's great nephew. It was subsequently stolen from the nephews home in CreweCrewe
Crewe is a railway town within the unitary authority area of Cheshire East and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. According to the 2001 census the urban area had a population of 67,683...
on 26 June 2010, together with Neely's other medals. Cheshire Police are investigating.