Prescot Roll of Honour

Halkett William NEAVES

31 Campbell Street, Prescot

Sapper 7976, West Lancs Division, Royal Engineers

Halkett William Neaves was father of Halkett Francis Neaves (see above). He was born on 18th September 1871 in Liverpool and married Elizabeth Turner in 1891.

The 1911 census entry shows the family as living at Ropers Bridge in Whiston, but by the time of the war the Neaves family were living at 21, Station Road, Prescot. The census shows Halkett to be single and working as a Cast Iron Pipe Fitter at the Wire works.

He was listed in the Prescot Reporter in May 1915 as serving with the colours, having joined the Royal Engineers as Sapper 7976 at St Helens on 13th May. He recorded his next of kin as his wife, Elizabeth. He lied about his age, stating that he was 34 years and 8 months old, when in fact he was 44! He stated that he had three dependent children at the time; Charlotte (b.10/06/1902), Nicholas (b. 27/06/1904) and Catherine (b. 30/10/1908).

He was charged with 'Inattention to Duty' on 13th November 1915 and was fined 2 days pay and ordered to do an extra guard. He was then fined 1 days pay for being AWOL for 24 hours in January 1916.

On 14th March 1917, without having seen overseas service, he was transferred to Class 'W' of the Army Reserve with instructions to report to the BI&HC Company at Prescot where he was to undertake munitions work.

He was demobilised from the army on 15th January 1919.

The 1939 National Register, shown below, listed Halkett at 14 Jubilee Drive, Liverpool, noting that he was employed as a Supervisor at ta Drop Forge Hammer