Charles William Neaber

Born 26 Dec 1881 - Died 3 Mar 1956

Service number: WWI 13/717 AWMM
Also known as: —
Armed force / branch: Army AWMM
Last rank: —
War: World War I, 1914-1918 AWMM

Charles William Neaber — Portrait of Charles Neaber. Image kindly provided by Alison Meredith (Feburary 2020). Image has no known copyright restrictions. No Known Copyright Restrictions

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Biographical information

Present address (as listed in New Zealand. Army (1920). List of the names of all ex-members of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, suffering permanent disability from 20% to 100%): Mangateparu, Morrinsville

The Auckland Mounted Rifles regiment had taken a bulldog for its mascot. They named the dog Buller. After Charles joined up Buller became his responsibility. A studded leather collar had been made for the dog. On the collar was a name plate which read "Buller. Mascot. Auckland Mounted Reinforcements. 1914." Also made for the dog was a black and white coat bearing the flag of the British Empire - the Union Jack - and initialled A.M.R. Buller was seen everywhere with the regiment - during all drill and training exercises, and even on parade. A photograph of the Regiment with Buller appeared in the Auckland Weekly News, 8th October 1914 (page 36) with the caption reading "N.Z. Expeditionary Force. Machine Gun Section. Auckland Mounted Rifles Infantry." This photo was taken a couple of weeks prior to Charles enlisting.

Six weeks after enlisting Charles Neaber embarked with the 2nd Reinforcements leaving Wellington on 14 December 1914. Buller remained behind in Wellington with Charles' friend, Horace Strange-Mure.

On August 06 Charles Neaber was wounded on Walkers Ridge - a bullet tearing into the calf on his right leg and shattering the bone. The family does not recall the exact details of how Charles was wounded or where he was at the time (things a father would never talk of especially to his daughters). It is said that back in New Zealand, Buller 'knew' that something had happened to his master Charles, for on several occasions over a period of a few days Horace Strange-Mure had to retrieve Buller from the beach where the dog appeared to be pining. Story has it that the time Buller was pining on the beach coincided with the same time that Charles was wounded!

It is understood that Charles lay wounded on the beach for two or three days before being taken on board the Hospital ship "Dongola" on 09 August 1915.

Charles returned to New Zealand on 08 June 1916. Charles spent a few weeks in the convalescent home in Wellington and was finally discharged on 10 October 1916. He then went to stay with his friend Horace Strange-Mure. (Horace kept Buller.) AWMM

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Charles William Neaber