Neely, Hugh Bertram
“Dead on the field of honour!” How grand! How terrible and – how sad! Those of us who have personal recollections of H. B. Neely will read of his death with acute regret, for a finer man, a cleaner sportsman, never entered the hospital.
From his earliest days at Guy's, when he came as a pupil in Dental Mechanics in October, 1908, to the time he qualified in November, 1912, he was a tower of strength to the Dental side, mentally and physically. In addition to his ordinary hospital appointments, he was Assistant Demonstrator of Dental Metallurgy from January to March 1911, and Assistant Dental House Surgeon from July to September, 1912.
At sports he was in his element, and won his full Hospital and United Hospital Colours for football.
After taking his degree he passed into private practice, filling two or three posts as assistant, for a short time, and then setting up at Southampton. Here he was very successful until war broke out, when he immediately closed his practice, like the sportsman he was, and rejoined his old volunteer regiment, "The Artists". Later he received his commission as Second Lieutenant in the 3rd Battalion of the Suffolk Regiment, and was sent on active service to France.
In the heavy fighting which took place around Ypres about the end of April, he was one of the many officers who fell in action - brave men who gave their lives cheerfully and willingly for their country. We men of Guy's can realise what a loss he must have been to his men, for he was always a man who though for others before himself. Guy’s Hospital Gazette, 8 May, 1915
Biographical
| Surname(s) | Neely |
|---|---|
| First name(s) | Hugh Bertram |
| Family details | Son of William and Clare Neely, of Ruxley House, Bromley |
| Previous education | Lancing College |
| College | Guy's Hospital |
| Dates at college | 1908-1912 |
| Dept / course | Dental Pupilage, Chemistry and Physics |
| Qualifications | L.D.S. 1912 |
| Military unit | Suffolk Regiment, 1st Bn |
| War / conflict | World War One (1914-1918) |
| Date of death | 23 April 1915 |
| Age at death | 26 |
| Rank at death | Second Lieutenant |
| Cause of death | Killed in action |
| Burial place | Vlamertinghe Military Cemetery |
| Commemoration(s) | Guy's Hospital Memorial |
| Notes | His brother Clive William Neely also fell. On 29th April 1915, 2nd Lieut RA Pargeter wrote a letter to Mrs Clare Neely informing her that her son, Hugh, had been wounded. Reginald Amherst Pargeter, an alumnus of King's College London, sadly died and is also commemorated on this website. |
| Sources | Guy's Hospital Medical School Records, King's College London Archives; Commonwealth War Graves Commission; Soldiers Died in the Great War; additional information contributed by Jolyon Neely |