Captain,Wilfred Percy Nevill :Four Footballs

Discussion in 'Prewar' started by CL1, Mar 29, 2019.

  1. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    Captain NEVILL, WILFRED PERCY
    Died 01/07/1916

    1st Bn.
    East Yorkshire Regiment

    attd. 8th Bn.
    East Surrey Regiment

    Captain Nevill bought four footballs, one for each of his platoons. The idea being that on the day of the First Battle of the Somme, the footballs would be "kicked into No Mans Land" as far towards the German line as was possible, and the winner would receive a prize from the Captain, who "kicked off" the first ball - the prize was never collected as Nevill died on the day. One of the footballs was inscribed : "The Great European Cup, The Final, East Surreys v Bavarians, Kick Off at Zero". Two examples are now held by National Army Museum and the Queen's Regiment Museum, Howe Barracks, Canterbury, Kent.

    Buried at CARNOY MILITARY CEMETERY

    Location: Somme, France
    Number of casualties: 827

    Cemetery/memorial reference: E. 28.


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    [​IMG]https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56474989/wilfred-percy-nevill

    Wilfred Percy Nevill Captain, East Surrey Regiment, attached East Yorkshire Regiment
     
    Last edited: Mar 29, 2019
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  2. Guy Hudson

    Guy Hudson Looker-upper

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    DOVER EXPRESS 21st July 1916

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    BURY FREE PRESS 22nd July 1916
     
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  3. harkness

    harkness Well-Known Member

    Baptism, St Mary Magdalene, Holloway Road, Islington:

    Nevill.jpg
     
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  4. bexley84

    bexley84 Well-Known Member

    I think Captain Nevill lived just up the road from Rifleman Frank Edwards who was the men who kicked the football from his trench at Loos on 25th September '15. Frank lived in Whitton.
     
    Last edited: Mar 31, 2019
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  5. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

    Last edited: Mar 30, 2019
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  6. Deacs

    Deacs Well i am from Cumbria.

    From the war diaries of the East Surrey regiment of July 1916.
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  7. bexley84

    bexley84 Well-Known Member

    I had the chance to have a kick around with the ball at Dulwich Hamlets FC last week..

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