Andrew Neville was born in Cobden, Ontario on 1st January 1890.

The 1901 Census for Canada on Ancestry.co.uk shows that the Neville family was living in Fort William, Ontario. Head of the household was Patrick Neville aged 52. He was a Farmer by trade. he had been born in 1849 in Quebec, Canada. His wife Margaret Ann nee Devine was 46. She was born 1855 in Renfrew, Ontario. aThey hadhad nine children living at home, Mary age 23, Michael age 20, John age 18, Robert age 15, Tessie age 13, Andrew age 11, Helena age 8, Felix age 4 and Maggie age 1.

Ten years later we find the family in different circumstances due to the death of Patrick Neville who had died in 1902 in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada.

The family wwas living in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. Head of the household was Margaret Neville who was 57 years of age. There were five children listed at home They were  Robert 26, and Andrew  20 were both both Druggists by trade. Lena was 18, Felix  was 14,and Margaret  11.  There was also a Lodger by the name of Henry McRyrtaey aged 24.

Andrew Neville married Ethel May Gibson on 3rd September 1917 Andrew became a father when his wife Ethel gave birth to their daughter, Helen Doris Neville born 11th July 1918, a few weeks before Andrew embarked for England. I have received permission from Dianne Gibson, (Andrew’s grand daughter)  to publish an image of Helen Doris Neville,  (Scroll down below the Google map to view). I contacted Dianne through Ancestry Family Trees.

Andrew Neville’s army records  in the Library of Canada Archives, tell us that he was drafted into the 1st Depot Battalion of the Manitoba Regiment on 27th October 1917 at Fort William, Ontario. He named his wife, Ethel as his next of kin and his address was Suite 15, Dyke Block, Fort William, Ontario,Canada.  He worked as a Drug Clerk.  He was a  Roman Catholic. The medical form shows that he was 5ft 9inches tall with a ruddy comlexion, blue eyes and brown hair. After basic training, Andrew embarked for England aboard the S.S. Saturnia on 30th August 1918. He arrived on the 16th September 1918 when he was posted to Seaford Army Camp to complete training.

Andrew spent three months at SeafordArmy Camp and when hostilities ceased he was transferred to Kinmel Camp, Rhyl to await repatriation to Canada. The winter of 1919 was harsh and conditions at Kinmel Camp at the end of the war were severe, there was a shortage of every type of commodity and the camp was overcrowded with the daily influx of soldiers waiting for ships to take them home.

It would appear that Andrew was suffering from mental health issues that were not evident or addressed by medical services. Tragically he ended his life on 5th February 1919 by self inflicted wounds and was pronounced dead at number 9 Canadian Hospital, Kinmel Park. There is a short but graphic account of what happened to him in a small newspaper cutting which can be seen by scrolling down past the Google map.

Andrew is buried in St. Margaret’s Cemetery, Bodelwyddan.

Andrew is commemorated on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial