Neeson, Charles
Sergeant
No. 10345, 1st Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
Died of wounds on Monday 23 April 1917 (aged 24)
No known grave
Commemorated:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Arras Memorial, France (Bay 6)
Holywood and District War Memorial
Journey of Remembering Belfast Book of Honour
Family Grave Headstone in Holywood Cemetery, Co Down
BIOGRAPHY
In the Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914 – 1919 database it is recorded that Charles Neeson was born in Shankill, Belfast, lived in Holywood and enlisted in Belfast.
Charles Neeson was born on 4 November 1892 at 57 Spruce Street, Belfast and he was a son of William and Margaret Neeson (nee O’Neill) who were married on 2 August 1876 in Holywood Roman Catholic Church. William Neeson, a widower from Holywood was a son of Patrick Neeson, a carpenter. Margaret O’Neill from Holywood was a daughter of Michael O’Neill, a farmer.
The Neeson family lived at 10 Church Street, Holywood.
William Neeson worked as a carpenter and he had at least eight children:
William (born around 1874/1875)
James (born 13 May 1877)
John (born 23 August 1880 in Church Street, Holywood)
Hugh Ambrose (born 17 January 1882)
Helena (born 31 August 1883 in Church Street, Holywood)
Daniel (born 3 October 1885 in Church Street, Holywood)
Arthur (born 16 April 1887 in Church Street, Holywood)
Thomas Michael (born 28 January 1890 at 41 Charlotte Street, Belfast)
Charles (born 4 November 1892 at 57 Spruce Street, Belfast)
During the Great War Sergeant Charles Neeson served with the 1st Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers in Gallipoli (from 17 March 1915) and then in France where he died of wounds on 23 April 1917 (aged 24). He has no known grave. Evidence of a valid nuncupative will was accepted on 12 December 1917. His brother, John Neeson, of Church Street, Holywood made a written statement (witnessed by Edmund Hassett, Parish Priest, Holywood) that Charles had told him at the beginning of April 1916, when Charles was last home on leave and staying with his brother Hugh Neeson at 55 Trevor Street, Holywood, that if anything happened to him he wanted everything he had or was due to him to be given to Hugh’s wife. Charles Neeson’s effects were received by his sister-in-law, Katie Neeson.
Charles Neeson’s brother, William Neeson, lived at 424 Newtownards Road, Belfast.
Sergeant Charles Neeson (No.10345) is commemorated on the Arras Memorial in France; on Holywood and District War Memorial; on the Family Grave Headstone in Holywood Cemetery, Co Down and in the Belfast Book of Honour (Page 500).