Neale, M

MAURICE NEALE

Remembered with honour St Sever Cemetery: Plot B, Row 18, Grave 16.

He enlisted in Watford; was entitled to the Victory and British War medals, and died of wounds received in action.  Unfortunately, Maurice’s Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing.

There is a Death announcement for Maurice in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 14 October 1916; plus In Memoriams in the issues dated 5 October 1918 and 4 October 1919.

Son of the late William and Elizabeth (nee PARSONS) NEALE; husband of Mary Louisa (nee DOWSE) NEALE of Watford.

His parents married 9 April 1876 at St Mary’s, Watford.  William died 1905 in Watford aged 52, and was buried 25 November in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford; Elizabeth died 1914 in Watford aged 55, and was buried 19 June, also in Vicarage Cemetery.

Maurice was born 31 July 1885 in Watford, and attended first Sotheron Road Infants’ School, Watford; then Beechen Grove Board School, Watford, from 8 February 1892 to 30 August 1897.  He married 28 March 1914 at St Michael’s, Watford; they had two children.  Mary never remarried, and died 7 November 1978 in Poole, Dorset, aged 90.

On the 1891 Census, aged 5 he lived in Watford, with his parents and five siblings.  On the 1901 Census, a plumber aged 15 he still lived in Watford, with his parents and six siblings.  On the 1911 Census, a house decorator aged 25, he still lived in Watford, with his widowed mother and five siblings.