On the Thiepval Memorial, Somme France is the name of 20/857 Private Samuel Neal, serving with the 20th (Tyneside Scottish) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers  who died 01/07/1916.

Derek Johnstone has provided the following:

Samuel Neal was born at Bedlington, Northumberland about 1887 to parents William Neal from Norfolk (Sherringham) and Alice Neal (nee Smith) from Belford.

The 1891 Census shows that the Neal family lived at Choppington Colliery, Northumberland where there were 11 family members in the house.

Samuel was living at 5th Row, Choppington in 1901 aged 14. He was shown to be working as a pony driver underground in the coal mines.

In 1911, Samuel was living at 7, Double Row Choppington where he was single, 24 years old and working as a hewer in the coal mines.

Samuel enlisted at Bedlington. His name is shown in the Tyneside Scottish book by Stewart and Sheen as ‘Sam’. His Pension Index Card lists only his father, William Neal, indicating he was probably not married.

Samuel Neal is remembered in Choppington on C36.01 and C36.04