| Allston Neely was the second youngest son of William James and Margaret Ann Neely. William James Neely married Margaret Ann Armstrong 29th July 1880 in the district of Coleraine.
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| Allston Neely was born in Kilrea on born 15th April 1895. He was one of 13 children.
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| Family: William James Neely, Margaret Ann Neely, George E Neely 20 (born about 1881), Margaret Jane Neely (born 12th June 1883), Thomas Neely (born 11th September 1884), Sarah S Neely (born 23rd November 1885), Henry Neely (born 18th October 1887), Maria E Neely (born 19th August 1889), William James Neely (born 24th August 1891), Annie M Neely (born 16th August 1893), Allston Neely (born 15th April 1895), Letitia Neely (born 28th June 1896), Isabella Agnes Neely (born 15th August 1898), Robert Neely (born 12th April 1900), Gladys Neely (born 26th July 1902).
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| The 1901 census lists Allston as age 5 living with the family at house 30 in Moyagoney, Tamlaght, County Londonderry. His father was a farmer.
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| The 1911 census lists Allston as age 16 living with the family at house 11 in Moyagoney, Tamlaght, Kilrea, Londonderry. He had left school and was working on his father’s farm.
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| Allston served his apprenticeship in the hardware and grocery establishment of Thomas A Lytle in Maghera.
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| He was a member of Lislea L.O.L. and of Tamlaght O’Crilly Parish Church.
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| Allston Neely emigrated to New Zealand in 1914.
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| Allston Neely was a member of Loyal Pukekohe Lodge of Oddfellows and of the local Pukekohe Orange Lodge.
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| Allston Neely initially attempted to enlist in June 1915 but had been rejected due to bad hearing.
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| Prior to enlisting he had worked as a carrier for W Guest. His last address states simply c/o W Guest, Pukekohe.
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| Allston Neely enlisted in Pukekohe on 18th December 1916. He had previously been with the 16th Waiuku Infantry. Waiuku and Pukekohe are country towns in the Auckland Region in the North Island of New Zealand. They are located at the southern end of the Waiuku River.
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| Rifleman Neely left New Zealand with his unit on 9th June 1917.
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| In August he met an old school friend, Private John ‘Jack’ McCay Torrens. The two served in the same machine gun team.
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| The photo is of Private John Torrens and Rifleman Allston Neely. From their enlistment papers, John Torrens was 5’4. Allston Neely was 5’8. It was assumed that Torrens was on the left and Neely on the right.
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| However, in September 2020, Brendan Sands, a great-nephew of Allston Neely, informed us that the two need to be reversed. This has now been done.
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| Rifleman Neely was serving with the 1st Battalion of the 3rd New Zealand Rifle Brigade when he was killed in action east of Bapaume in France on 1st September 1918. Private Jack Torrens was killed the same day.
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| From the Pukekohe & Waiuku Times dated 8th October 1918:
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| Members of Loyal Pukekohe Lodge of Oddfellows and of the local Orange Lodge are requested to assemble in the Masonic Hall at 10:15 am next Sunday for the purpose of proceeding to St Andrews Church where a memorial service to the late Bro. Allston Neely, who was killed in action on 1st September, is to be held.
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| From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 24th October 1918:
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| Lance Corporal Alston Neely, New Zealand Forces, who has recently made the great sacrifice, is the fourth son of Mr William J Neely, Moyagoney. He emigrated a few years ago to New Zealand, where he joined the colours. From his landing in France, he was through many hard fought battles. Before going to the colonies, he served his apprenticeship in the hardware and grocery establishment of Thomas A Lyttle, and during his stay in Maghera he made a host of friends. He was a member of Lislea L.O.L. and of Tamlaght O’Crilly Parish Church, being the second member of that congregation to make the supreme sacrifice. The news of his death is regretted by all who knew him.
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| In his final will, Allston left all to his brother George, who was still living in Kilrea.
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| Last Will and Testament of Rifleman Allston Neely dated 28th April 1918
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| I, No 49102 Allston Neely, formerly of Pukekohe in New Zealand, a carrier, but now a Rifleman in the N.Z.R.B. of the New Zealand Rifle Expeditionary Force on actual military service do hereby revoke all wills heretofore made by me and declare this to be my last will. I give devise and bequeath all my estate, both Real and Personal, unto Mr George Neely, Moyagoney, Kilrea, County Derry, Ireland.
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| Rifleman Allston Neely is buried in Bancourt British Cemetery, Bapaume, France.
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| The CWGC record Rifleman Allston Neely as the son of William James and Margret Ann Neely, of Moyagoney, Upperlands, Co. Londonderry, Ireland.
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