William Neilly
Encyclopedia
William Neilly DCM
(1893-1956) falsified his age and enlisted in the British army
on 25 July, 1910.
When as a lance corporal (acting corporal) serving in the 150th Field Company, Corps of Royal Engineers attached to the 36th Ulster Division. The following action took place for which he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal
(DCM).
On 22 March, 1918 when serving at Tugny, Aisne
, France
. He had charge of the demolition of a railway bridge, and waited under continuous artillery and machine-gun fire until the enemy were actually on the bridge before destroying it. Later, when ordered to demolish another bridge, he sent back his party and waited alone till the enemy were on the opposite bank before firing the charge.
During this action he was the member of a team led by Second Lieutenant Cecil Leonard Knox
, who was awarded the Victoria Cross
for his part.
William Neilly left the army as a Lance Sergeant
after the end of World War I
in 1918. He remained in the army reserve until he was demobilised on 24 July, 1922.
DCM
DCM may refer to:Technology:* Data Center Manager* Deep chlorophyll maximum, subsurface maximum in the concentration of chlorophyll* Dichloromethane, a common solvent in organic chemistry...
(1893-1956) falsified his age and enlisted in the 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...
on 25 July, 1910.
When as a lance corporal (acting corporal) serving in the 150th Field Company, Corps of Royal Engineers attached to the 36th Ulster Division. The following action took place for which he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal
Distinguished Conduct Medal
The Distinguished Conduct Medal was an extremely high level award for bravery. It was a second level military decoration awarded to other ranks of the British Army and formerly also to non-commissioned personnel of other Commonwealth countries.The medal was instituted in 1854, during the Crimean...
(DCM).
On 22 March, 1918 when serving at Tugny, Aisne
Aisne
Aisne is a department in the northern part of France named after the Aisne River.- History :Aisne is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on 4 March 1790. It was created from parts of the former provinces of Île-de-France, Picardie, and Champagne.Most of the old...
, 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...
. He had charge of the demolition of a railway bridge, and waited under continuous artillery and machine-gun fire until the enemy were actually on the bridge before destroying it. Later, when ordered to demolish another bridge, he sent back his party and waited alone till the enemy were on the opposite bank before firing the charge.
During this action he was the member of a team led by Second Lieutenant Cecil Leonard Knox
Cecil Leonard Knox
Cecil Leonard Knox VC 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.-Details:...
, who was awarded 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....
for his part.
William Neilly left the army as a Lance Sergeant
Lance Sergeant
A lance sergeant in the armies of the Commonwealth was a corporal acting in the rank of sergeant. The appointment is retained now only in the Foot Guards and Honourable Artillery Company...
after the end of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
in 1918. He remained in the army reserve until he was demobilised on 24 July, 1922.
See also
- Citation London Gazzette