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Auction: 1008 - Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals & Militaria
Lot: 2

Family Group: The Great War September 1918 Posthumous V.C., M.M. Pair to Lance Sergeant T. Neely, King´s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment, Who, at The Battle of Flesquieres, Under Heavy and Point Blank Fire, Rushed Several Enemy Machine-Gun Positions, in Some Case Single-Handedly, Killed or Captured the Occupants, and Silenced Their Fire; Immediately Promoted in the Field Four Days Later He Was Killed During the Advance on the German Positions at Rumilly, 1.10.1918 a) Victoria Cross, reverse of suspension bar engraved ´32827 Cpl. (L/ Sjt.) T. Neeley [sic]. M.M. 8th. Bn. R. Lanc. R.´, reverse of Cross engraved ´27. Sep. 1918´, with Hancocks, London, case of issue b) Military Medal, G.V.R. (32827 Pte.- L.Cpl.- T. Neeley [sic]. 8/ R. Lanc: R.), minor edge bruise to MM, nearly extremely fine, both housed in a glazed display frame, with the following related items: - Great War Bronze Memorial Plaque (Thomas Neely), with card holder - Great War Memorial Scroll ´Cpl. Thomas Neely, V.C., M.M. Royal Lancaster Regt.´, and related Liverpool Roll of Honour Scroll, these somewhat distressed - A Large framed and glazed portrait painting of the recipient, showing him wearing the V.C. and M.M., completed after his death - Postcard from the recipient to his mother on the occasion of his leaving for France - Letter from the recipient to his mother on the occasion of his having been promoted Corporal, dated France, 29.6.1918 The Great War Memorial Plaque and Scroll to Private R. Egan, West Riding Regiment, the Cousin of Lance Sergeant T. Neely Great War Bronze Memorial Plaque (Raymond Egan), with card holder; Great War Memorial Scroll ´Pte. Raymond Egan W. Riding Regt.´ (lot) Estimate £ 100,000-140,000 V.C. London Gazette 14.12.1918 No. 32827 (L./Sjt.) Thomas Neely, M.M., 8th Bn., R. Lanc. R. (Liverpool) ´For most conspicuous bravery during operations at Flesquieres on 27th September, 1918. His company was held up during the advance by heavy machine-gun fire from a flank. Corporal Neely, realising the seriousness of the situation, at once, under point blank fire, dashed out with two men and rushed the positions, disposing of the garrisons and capturing three machine guns. Subsequently, on two successive occasions, he rushed concrete strong points, killing or capturing the occupants. The splendid initiative and fighting spirit displayed by this gallant non-commissioned officer in dealing with a series of posts, in some cases single-handed, was largely responsible for the taking and clearing of a heavily fortified and strongly garrisoned position, and enabled his company to advance 3,000 yards along the Hindenburg support line.´ M.M. London Gazette 16.7.1918 32827 Pte. (L./C.) T. Neeley, R. Lan. R. (Liverpool). 32827 Lance Sergeant Thomas Neely, V.C., M.M., was born in Wallasey, Cheshire, on the 28th March 1897, the eldest son of James and Mary Neely, and was educated at St. Francis de Sales School, Walton, Liverpool. His birth certificate shows his name to be spelt Neely, although some records list his as Neeley. After leaving school, Neely worked at Bibby´s Mills, Liverpool. At the outbreak of War in August 1914 Neely decided to join up, and enlisted as a Private in the Cheshire Regiment in September 1914. However, virtually on the point of embarking for France, he transferred to the 8th Battalion, King´s Own (Royal Lancaster) Regiment: ´I am at Folkestone, and am leaving for France today. Don´t worry, I will be all right. I am in the King´s Own, not the Cheshires, and I will send my old badge home to you.´ (postcard to the recipient´s mother refers). In July 1918 Neely was awarded the Military Medal, and soon after he was sent home on leave. On the 26th August he returned to the front line, and was promoted Corporal. Although his Company Commander suggested that he apply for a Commission, Neely was adamant that he should stay as an NCO, to enable him to see as much action as possible, and instead was soon promoted to Lance Sergeant. Action at Flesquieres For the Battle of the Canal du Nord, the 8th Battalion, King´s Own, was part of the 76th Brigade, 3rd Division. Their primary objective was to capture part of the strongly defended Hindenburg Line and its support line in the and around the village of Flesquieres. It was the last real German line of defence, and the area had already seen heavy fighting in November 1917, and again in the spring of 1918 when it was retaken by the enemy. At 5:20am on the morning of the 27th September the 3rd Division crossed the dry bed of the Canal du Nord and advanced on the Hindenburg Line. The divisional front was led by the 8th and 9th Brigades, who were charged with taking the first objectives; once these were captured, the 76th Brigade was to pass through and make for the second objective. During the attack, the 8th King´s Own came up against a line of numerous concrete machine-gun posts that ran through the village of Flesquieres as part of the support line. As a result, most of the officers of the leading companies became casualties, and the whole advance was held up by heavy fire from the left flank. The situation was critical, as any delay in the advance would allow the enemy to launch a counter-attack. What followed was an exhibition of gallantry and courage of the highest order. On his own initiative, Neely, taking two men with him, rushed the German positions, and captured three enemy machine guns. Before the enemy could take renewed stock of the situation he swiftly followed this up with two more daring raids, capturing or killing the enemy machine-gunners on both occasions. Taking inspiration from this, the Battalion rallied- to the right the village of Ribecourt was taken, as was the Bourlon Ridge on the left flank, and during the operation the battalion captured 800 prisoners and more than 200 enemy machine-guns. By nightfall, when the 8th King´s Own were relieved, they had advanced a tremendous four miles in one day. For his gallantry and conspicuous bravery Corporal Neely was immediately promoted in the field to the rank of Lance Sergeant. On the 1st October the battle continued, with the 76th Division coming under severe fire as they secured the southern end of the objective at Rumilly. Casualties were high, and Lance Sergeant Neely was among the fallen. He is buried near where he fell, in Masnieres Cemetery, France. His Victoria Cross, so bravely earned just four days earlier, was announced two months later. As a posthumous award, it was to be presented to his parents as next-of-kin. Only one travel warrant had been issued, in his mother´s name. His father was unemployed at the time, and so was unable to afford the cost of train travel from Liverpool to London. Fortunately, funds were found, and Lance Sergeant Neely´s Victoria Cross was presented to both his parents by King George V in a private ceremony in the ballroom of Buckingham Palace on the 27th February 1920. Lance Sergeant Neely was additionally entitled to a British War and Victory Medal; however, the frame in which the two gallantry awards were displayed for over fifty years in his parent´s home give no indication of the family ever receiving them. 7690 Private Raymond Egan, born Liverpool, the cousin of Lance Sergeant Thomas Neely; served with the 9th Battalion, Duke of Wellington´s (West Riding) Regiment during the Great War; killed in action on the Western Front, 2.3.1916, and is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium.

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£110,000