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Name: |
NEVILL, WILFRED PERCY |
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Initials: |
W P |
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Nationality: |
United Kingdom |
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Rank: |
Captain |
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Regiment/Service: |
East Yorkshire Regiment |
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Unit Text: |
1st Bn. |
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Secondary Regiment: |
East Surrey Regiment |
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Secondary Unit Text: |
attd. 8th Bn. |
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Date of Death: |
01/07/1916 |
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Additional information: |
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. |
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Casualty Type: |
Commonwealth War Dead |
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Grave/Memorial Reference: |
E. 28. |
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Cemetery: |
CARNOY MILITARY CEMETERY |