Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Attestation papers – Certificate of Medication examination for Wilfred Neely's enlistment

Memorial – Following Vimy, Arras Road Cemetery was subsequently heavily damaged in fighting, many of the graves were destroyed. After the war a new cemetery was created across the road called Nine Elms cemetery. All the remains they could recover from the old Arras Road Cemetery were collected for reburial. Pte Neely's grave was not located when the exhumations of field burials took place. This is a special memorial in Nine Elms Cemetery that commemorates a group of 15th Battalion men who were killed at Vimy and buried in field graves at what was then Arras Road Cemetery. In the case of men who were known to have been buried in Arras Road cemetery but whose remains they could find but could not identify, these graves are separated from the normal rows of graves and stone marker in the row explains why this was done. All the headstones in this special row are touching one another signifying that all these dead came from one burial place but their remains could not be distinguished individually.

Memorial – Family headstone for Wilfred T., Pte. NEELY Dorchester Union Cemetery, Section: 4 Dorchester, North Dorchester Township (Concession A, Lot 18) Middlesex County, ON

Honour Roll – 135th Battalion Honour Roll donated by their First Commanding Officer, Col. Robson. From the "Southwestern Ontario Memorial Album - Dedicated to our Beloved Dead". It was published by Sergeant Major Cresswell of London, Ontario.

War Diary – War Diary - In the Trenches from April 8, 9, 10, 1917; 15th Battalion 48th Highlanders

Photo of WILFRED TRUMAN NEELY – Pte W T Neely from the December 1918 edition of The Christmas Echo published in London Ontario --And in the morning.

Memorial – The 15th Battalion Vimy cross memorial was erected and dedicated at Ecurie, France close to the site where the original wooden Vimy cross was erected on the battlefield near Nine Elms Cemetery on 10 April 1917. The memorial is a granite replica of that cross and bears the names of fifty-four of the battalion's Fallen that were inscribed on the original - including Pte Wilfred Neely. Photograph taken in September 2018 at the dedication ceremony and is submitted by the 15th Battalion CEF Memorial Project. Dileas Gu Brath

Cap Badge – Cap Badge 135th Bn (Middlesex). Private Neely was originally a member of the 135th Bn before transfer to the 15th Bn as a reinforcement. Submitted by Capt V Goldman, 15th Bn Memorial Project. DILEAS GU BRATH

Cap Badge – Cap Badge 15th Bn (48th Highlanders of Canada). Submitted by Capt V Goldman, 15th Bn Memorial Project. DILEAS GU BRATH

Shoulder Patch – Shoulder Patch 15th Bn (48th Highlanders of Canada). Submitted by Capt V Goldman, 15th Bn Memorial Project. DILEAS GU BRATH

Grave marker – Gravemarker. Photo BGen G. Young 15th Battalion Memorial Project Team DILEAS GU BRATH.

Vimy Cross – Vimy Cross erected by the 15th Battalion following the 9 April 1917 battle at Vimy Ridge to commemorate those who fell during the engagement. Photo from the archives of the 48th Highlanders Museum, Toronto. Provided by BGen (ret) G Young and submitted by Capt (ret) V Goldman of the 15th Battalion Memorial Project. DILEAS GU BRATH

Vimy Cross – The Vimy Cross was returned to the 48th Highlanders after the war by the CWGC and currently rests in a place of honour in their Regimental Museum. All the names of those 15th Battalion members killed during battle at Vimy Ridge remain clearly visible on the cross. Photo by BGen (ret) G Young and submitted by Capt (ret) V Goldman of the 15th Battalion Memorial Project. DILEAS GU BRATH

Record of Service – Record of Service Card (front side). Courtesy 48th Highlanders of Canada Regimental Museum. Submitted by 15th Bn Memorial Project Team. DILEAS GU BRATH

Record of Service – Record of Service Card (reverse side). Courtesy 48th Highlanders of Canada Regimental Museum. Submitted by 15th Bn Memorial Project Team. DILEAS GU BRATH

Grave Marker – Grave Marker – The grave marker at the Nine Elms Cemetery located outside Roclincourt, France. It is located about 5 kilometres from Canada's Vimy Memorial. May he rest in peace. (John & Anne Stephens 2013)

Cemetery – Nine Elms Cemetery – The Nine Elms Cemetery, located at Roclincourt, France. It is about 5 kilometres from Canada's Vimy Memorial in France. (John & Anne Stephens 2013)

Newspaper Clipping – Pte. Wilfred Truman Neely obituary. Originally from London Ontario; killed at Vimy Ridge on April 9, 1917 while serving as a reinforcement to the 15th Battalion of the 48th Highlanders. His name appears on the Vimy Cross, erected to commemorate members of the 15th Battalion killed in action during the battle of Vimy Ridge, which is now housed at the 48th Highlanders Museum of Canada located in St. Andrew’s Church in Toronto, Ontario.

Vimy Cross – Close-up of the Vimy Cross showing Pte. Neely's name, erected to commemorate members of the 15th Battalion killed in action during the battle of Vimy Ridge, which is now housed at the 48th Highlanders Museum of Canada located in St. Andrew’s Church in Toronto, Ontario.

Circumstances of Death Registers – "Killed in action"; south west of Thelus - Canada, War Graves Registers (Circumstances of Casualty), for Wilfred Truman Neely

Burial Report – Burial report - Canada, CEF Commonwealth War Graves Registers, 1914-1919 for W T Neely

Attestation papers – Attestation Paper - Canada Over-Seas Expeditionary Force for Wilfred Truman Neely