Alfred William Neish

Story:
Alfred William Neish was born in 1894 in West Kirby, Wirral, Cheshire and baptised there on 22nd April 1894. He was the son of William Neish, who became a gardener on the Iwerne Minster estate, and Jane Neish (née Hinder). Among his siblings was Annie, born in 1886, who served with the VAD's as a Nurse. At the time of the 1911 Census Alfred was single, working as a gardener and living with his parents at The Gardens, Iwerne Minster, Dorset. He enlisted in London as a Private in the 5th Battalion of the Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment (Service No. 9764). He was posted to the Balkans on 30 Jun 1915 and was in action at Gallipoli, Turkey, and was awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1915 Star. He was presumed killed in action at Chanuk Bair, Turkey, on 10th August 1915 and his name appears on the Helles Memorial in Turkey (Panel 156 to 158). He is also remembered on the Iwerne Minster War Memorial, Shaftesbury, Dorset, and also on the grave of his sister, Annie, in Reading, Berkshire, who died as a result of her work with the VADs. Alfred's mother was in receipt of a dependent's pension.