Charles Saunders NEALE

Charles was born in Weeting in about 1862, the son of Robert Neale.

He joined the Norfolk Regiment at Great Yarmouth 6 Feb 1882 aged 19y 9 months. His pervious occupation was given as labourer and his service number was 133

With the Norfolk's, Charles travelled to the East Indies and Burma, before coming home to be placed in the reserves.


Corps

Battalion or Depot

Details

Rank

Date

Norfolk Regiment


attested

private

4 Feb 1882



Granted 1d GS pay


4 Feb 1884



appointed

Lc Cpl

26 Mar 1887



Granted 2d GS Pay


4 Feb 1888



Permitted to extend his army Service to complete 12 years with the colours


19 Jan 1889



promoted

corpl

24 Nov 1888



Awaiting trial


4 July 1889



Tried and reduced to the ranks for striking soldier


29 July 1889



released

private

30 July 1889



Forfeited 1d GS Pay


29 July 1889

Army Reserve


transferred

private

22 Dec 1889



discharged

pte

3 Feb 1894


As was often the case with men posted overseas, Charles had a number of health problems. His various stays in hospital were recorded by the authorities and are reported below:

Place

From

to

Cause

Gt Yarmouth

3 Jan 1883

8 Jan 1883

influenza

Colchester

9 July 1883

31 Aug 1883

Gonorrhoea

Maldar

17 Sep 1883

22 Sep 1883

Sprain (knee)

Landed in India

22 Oct 1883



Morar (India)

28/11/83

3/1/84

Gonorrhoea


17/1/84

21/1/84

Sprain


29/3/84

30/5/84

Gonorrhoea


9/8/84

3/9/84

Ague


14/10/84

18/10/84

Bronchial Catarrh

Sitapur

26/1/85

29/1/85

Ague


12/6/85

17/6/85

Febricula


11/7/85

8/8/85

Gonorrhoea


18/1/87

8/3/87

Gonorrhoea


15/10/87

18/10/87

Ague


6/11/87

24/11/87

jaundice


12/3/88

12/4/88

Gonorrhoea

Naini Tal

11/9/88

4/10/88

Gonorrhoea

Mandalay

16/2/88

20/12/88

Gonorrhoea


4/1/89

10/1/89

sprain


15/6/89

1/7/89

Gonorrhoea


6/7/89

19/7/89

Gonorrhoea


6/9/89

7/10/89

Enteric Fever

He gained a second class certificate of education on 9 Nov 1886

His disciplinary record was't perfect. In addition to the reduction in rank noted above for striking a soldier, he was confined to barracks for fourteen days in Doulah during November for "Wilfully breaking a cigar case, the property of a shopkeeper & using insubordinate language to the police".


For his service in India, Charles was awarded the India medal



After his return to England, Charles moved to Yorkshire, and on 1st August 1891 he married Emma Jane Stacey in Leeds. They had four children:

  • Lily Gertrude born in Leeds 4/8/1899
  • Emma Jane born in Leeds 20/12/1901
  • Clara Winifred born in Leeds 28/02/1904
  • and William R

It seems that Charles wasn't suited to civilian life and in 1901 he joined the Royal Garrison Regiment as Private 2048. Hw gave his occupation as "photographer".

Corps

Battalion or Depot

Details

Rank

Date

Royal Garrison Regiment

Bn

attested

private

29 July 1901



Resumed GCP @1d


29 July 1901


3rd

posted


29 July 1901



Deprived Lance Stripe


1 Apr 1902



Restored GC Pay of 2d


12 Jun 1902



Appointed unpaid

Lc CPl

30 Sep 1902



Extended his service for two years

Lc Cpl

25 Feb 1903



Granted pay of rank

Lc Cpl

5 May 1903



Awaiting trial


14 Jul 1903



Tried, convicted and sentenced 12 days HL from drunkenness on duty


30 July 1903



Deprived lance stripe on conviction


30 July 1903



In prison


From 31 Jul 1903

to 10 Aug 1903



Forfeits 1d GC Pay


27 Oct 1903

RGR

3rd

continued

private

1 Apr 1904



Extended his service for 2 years


1 Apr 1904



Forfeits 1d service pay


11 Apr 1904


depot

posted

1 Oct 1905


Discharged on completion of 14 years service

8 Oct 1906


He is reported to have sreved inthe following areas:

Country

From

To

Home

29 July 1901

19 Sept 1901

Malta

30 Sept 1901

20 Apr 1904

S Africa

21 Apr 1904

3 Oct 1905

Home

4 Oct 1903

4 Oct 1903


In September 1903 he suffered a wound to his right thumb accident on duty

As with many old soldiers, Charles returned to the Colours after the outbreak of war, he rejoined Norfolk Regiment as Private 10858 in Leeds, 5 Nov 1914 aged 52 y 206 d. One month later his wife, Emma Jane, passed away.

Corps

Battalion or Depot

Details

Rank

Date

General Service


attested

private

5 Nov 1914

Norfolk Regiment


posted


9 Nov 1914



appointed

L Cpl

11 Dec 1915



appointed

Acting Cpl

15 July 1916

Training Reserve

249 Infantry Battalion

transferred


1 Sept 1916

Norfolk Regiment

3

Compulsorily & permanently transferred

Act Cpl

2 Nov 1918


Warley

Demobilised


15 March 1919


Charles died on 30 Nov 1939 in Leeds

The information presented here has been derived from surviving public and military records as well as from contemporary press reports. We hope you find it of interest ‐ if you think we have made an error, or can add any further details, please get in touch.