Henry Herbert Neaves

Henry Herbert Neaves (Service No 2659) was born in Wollongong about 1892. He attended Unanderra Public School. He was a bright student who continued to study and at the time of enlistment was 22 years of age, single, and employed as a law clerk.

He embarked, with his Unit, on HMAT A 54 Runic on 9th August, 1915, from Sydney, on 9 August 1915. He disembarked at Alexandria, Egypt and was sent to Gallipoli.

While there he was promoted to Sergeant on 23rd October, 1915, and on 12th December further promoted to Company Quartermaster Sergeant. After the evacuation he returned to Egypt and on 3 March 1916 was transferred to the 45th battalion.
On 8th February, 1917 he was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant, and in June 1917 further promoted to Lieutenant.
On 6th August, 1918 Henry was wounded in action, receiving a gun shot wound to the back. He was evacuated to England for treatment.

On 27th February 1918 Henry was recommended for the Military Cross.
In official correspondence dated 17 June, 1919, a letter from the AIF to C Neaves Esq Unanderra, advised that the Military Cross had been awarded to Lieutenant Henry Herbert Neaves. This was officially declared in the Commonweath of Australia Gazette of 23 May, 1919, No 61.

Henry returned to Australia on 1 July 1919 and was discharged from the AIF on 20th October, 1919.
He is remembered with his brother Alfred on the Unanderra School Roll of Honour.

Henry died on 22 February 1933.

A third brother George Neaves enlisted in July 1915, however his father wrote to the Army stating that as one son had died, and a second was at the front, would they discharge George as he was under 18 years of age. George was discharged on 15th February 1916.