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Stanley
Thomas Arthur Neil, a civil engineer by profession was the resident
waterworks engineer to the Leeds Corporation at the New Leighton
Reservoir.
The second son of Mr. W. W.Neil, who was the assistant sewerage engineer
for the Leeds Corporation.
In September 1914 he
enlisted into the “rank and file” of the Leeds Pals Battalion, where
he took a large share of the responsibility for the design and erection
of the new camp at Colsterdale!
“The battalion was to
take part of the camp at Breary Banks, Colsterdale
in the September of 1914, a camp that was used for the navvies who were
building the reservoir, but because of a mysterious fissure that had
appeared in the reservoir the navvies were asked to move elsewhere?”
He was immediately
given a commission into the “pals” as a Lieutenant
and posted as second in
command of 'A' Company under the command of Captain Phillip Horace
Leyland Mellor
When the “Pals” had
their Regimental Sports Day, held at the Battalion Parade ground on
Wednesday 12th May 1915, he was made “Clerk of the
Course” (because
of his knowledge of the area, and his administration abilities)
. In December of 1915,
the same month the Leeds Pals left for Egypt, he
was promoted to the rank of Captain.
He served with the
“Pals” in Colsterdale, Egypt
and France.
Given 7 days home leave in April 1915, he spent most of it visiting the
homes and families of “Pals” that had been killed or wounded.
On the 3rd June 1915, after a month away from the “Pals”, (acting as
an instructor, at the divisional school) he rejoined them on the day
their adjutant, Captain Edward Karl Maur
De-Pledge died of wounds. Because of his death S.T.A.Neil replaced
him as adjutant of the Battalion.
On the 1st
July 1916, he was to be killed in action, in the attack on Serre (The
Battle of the Somme).
Like so many of the
“Pals”, his body was never to be found.
He is commemorated on the Thiepville Memorial.
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