John Neal and the Canadian Army Medical Corps

I was visiting my grandmother and we were talking about family members who served in the First World War. She mentioned that her Uncle John Neal was killed in the war. From my great-grandmother's papers I knew that already. She had noted that he was killed in October of 1918. With this being the 100th anniversary of WWI, I have been very keen on tracing all of my ancestors who served. So expect to hear more about other people in the coming weeks and months.

Albert Edward John Neal was the second child and first son of John Neal and Alice Johnson. He was born July 19, 1886 in West Derby, Lancashire, England. In the 1891 England Census he is listed with no occupation meaning he was still a child living at home and not attending school. In the 1901 England Census he was working as a telegraph messenger. It does not appear that he received much education, but rather entered the workforce. I haven't been able to track him down on the 1911 census yet. John Neal Sr. immigrated to Canada in 1911, with his wife following him in 1914. So presumably John Jr. immigrated within that time frame.

We next find him on September 23, 1914 enlisting in the Canadian over-seas expeditionary force to serve. This is only 50 days after Great-Britain has declared war. John Neal was obviously a very patriotic person who felt it was important to serve his adopted country while protecting his home country. His attestation paper shows that he was working as a hospital attendant. He also was currently in an active militia unit. His next-of-kin is listed as his father living in Englehart. He was 5 ft 9 ins, with a dark complexion, brown eyes and dark brown hair. His religious denomination is the Church of England.

John Neal Sept 23, 1914 Attestation Paper-first page

With his experience as a hospital attendant it made sense to put him in the Canadian Army Medical Corps. He became a private in the 2nd Canadian Field Ambulance. This ambulance was organized at Valcartier in September 1914 under Lt Col D.W. McPherson. They arrived in England on October 15, 1914 with a force of 11 officers and 245 other ranks. They arrived in France in February 14, 1915. 

The members of the field ambulance would be at the front lines helping clear and treat casualties to be transported to hospitals. This was dangerous work that would involve making difficult life and death decisions on a daily basis about who could be saved and who was too far gone. 

In April of 1916 the 2nd Field Ambulance was in the Netherlands and experiencing heavy casualties. On April 17th five members of the unit were wounded in action and another three were killed; Ptes. Neal J., Proctor J.D., and Murcott A. The unit was in Kruisstraat a small town in the central Netherlands. The unit's war diary describe the day as follows, "Heavy shelling in this area, and all around DUGOUTS occupied by our men."

2th Field Ambulance, Canadian Army Medical Corps War Diary April 17, 1916

CEF Commonwealth War Graves Register for John Neal

So tragically Private John Neal was killed earlier than I had originally thought. He was 30 years old. John is now buried in the Vlamertinghe Military Cemetery in Belgium near the town of Ieper, or Ypres. The War Graves Commission website show that it is a well maintained cemetery that I would love to visit one day and pay my respects. I unfortunately have no pictures of this brave man to show you, but hopefully one day I can find one. In the meantime I am happy to share his story.