Neil Wilfred Emery

First Name: 
Neil
Middle Name: 
Wilfred
Last Name: 
Emery
Date of Birth: 
Wednesday, November 24, 1897
Mother's Name: 
Margaret Emery nee McLeod
Father's Name: 
James Emery
Date Enlisted: 
Monday, January 17, 1916
Rank at Enlistment: 
Private
Rank at Discharge: 
Private
Unit: 
36th Battalion
Service: 
Infantry
Awards: 
British War Medal
Victory Medal
Date of Death: 
Wednesday, August 19, 1970
Place of Death: 
Kiama, N.S.W.
Details: 

Neil Wilfred Emery (Service No 5011), was born in Wollongong, N.S.W.

At enlistment, he was single, 18 years old, worked as a wheeler, lived at Mount Keira, N.S.W. and had served 4 years with the Cadets.

Neil embarked on HMAT A31 Ajana, with 20th Battalion, 13th Reinforcement, on 5th July 1916.

He arrived in England on 31st August 1916, and was posted to 36th Battalion, on 19th September 1916, in England. Neil joined 36th Battalion in France, on 22nd November 1916, enduring the harsh winter of 1916/1917. He served on the Western Front until 25th February 1917, when he was evacuated to hospital in England, for treatment of a scalded foot.

Neil was returned to Australia, in December 1917, and discharged medically unfit on 15th March 1918.

In 1920, he married Matilda Murphy and they had 5 children. Neil remained in the Illawarra, and was a keen cricketer and captain of the Waratah Cricket Club.

In 1942, his son Roland Emery, was killed in action at Rabaul, Papua New Guinea.

Neil died in Kiama, N.S.W., in 1970.

Sources: 
NAA: B2455, EMERY N W