Alvin Neil, DOW 19 January 1944.

This topic is going to be very disjointed, as that is just how I feel right now

I have been researching this casualty of the FSSF. He was wounded in a friendly fire incident 04 Dec 1944. More details to follow, as I sort through it all. I have visited the National Library and Archives Canada, and have photographed his service records.

Of interesting note. His name is ALVIN not Alven as the CWGC has it, and not Elvin as he is remembered on the Bancroft Ontario Cenotaph.

Although he was born in Monmouth Illinois, the family move to Ontario when he was young. He was from St. Ola Ontario, which is located east off of Provincial Highway 62, between Madoc and Bancroft. He was not from St. Olaf Minnesota, as claimed in one internet source I found.

His official date of death is recorded as 0704 18 January 1944. I can understand the CWGC listing his death as the 19th January 1944. I can not accept the United States recording his death as the 29th January 1944.

Also interesing is the fact he has a Province of Ontario Certificate of Registration of Death, AND a Report of Death of a United States Citizen in Military Service.

Ok a little bit of progress has been made.... I emailed the CVWM (Canadian Virtual War Memorial) and they have amended their information to read ALVIN and not ALVEN. Now to forward the information to the CWGC.

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Alvin is on the left of this photo, my mother is on the right next to the Canadian Soldier, who was Alvin's brother Eurwin.

I was wondering if you could e-mail me with the information you found on Alvin Neil. Alvin is the brother of my mother Marjorie Topping (Neil), she is in the photo left, front, flowers at the bottom of her dress, next to Alvin. I have spoken with a Weirmeir on the phone and I never wrote the phone number down, I was trying to call back to give my e-mail address, so he could sent me the information that he had spoke about over the phone.

Thanks Rob.

Hello Rob, message sent

I have moved this topic here, to allow me to use the title "In Memory of ALvin Neil DOW 19 January 1944" without causing any confusion (I hope). Watch for the new topic as I have the reseach to point where it is presentable.

Another update in regards to Alvin Neil. I have completed and posted my research to date for Alvin. I am quite pleased with results so far.

In addition to the write up, I got the following email from the people at the CWGC....
( my only thought while reading this reply, at 0440, this morning was ok ok I know things happen, now just correct it. I don't need the background as I already know what can happen during transcriptions)

Dear Mr W.
Thank you for your e mail.

May I explain that when our records compiled, by the transcribing of thousands of hand written documents after the war, inevitably some errors did occur due to the, sometimes, slight illegibility of the hand writing. Naturally, we are keen to ensure that all such errors are corrected, however small, and I am grateful to you for drawing this one to our attention. Our Records Section have therefore been asked to amend Alven to Alvin. Please note this may take a little while however to be reflected on our website due to the high volume of enquiries which our offices are currently dealing with, but the entry will eventually read as follows:

Rank: Staff Sergeant

Surname: NEIL

Forenames: ALVIN E.

Service No: C/4569

Age: 23

Unit: 1st

Regiment: Canadian Special Service Battalion, R.C.I.C.

Date of Death: 19 January 1944

Additional Information

Son of John M. and Sarah Neil, of St. Ola, Ontario, Canada.

Commemoration

LE PETIT LAC CEMETERY, Algeria, Plot E. Row D. Grave 20.

Thank you again for bringing this to our attention.


Yours sincerely
(Mrs)
Enquiries Administrator

WOW, I had often wondered if my Uncle Harvey and Uncle Archie would have known Alvin Neil, as they were all in B Company. My father was just sent a newspaper article (well photo) of No 10 Platoon, B Company, The Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment.... low and behold, both my Uncles and Alvin appear in that photo. WOW oh how I wish I knew this all those years ago, when my uncles were still among us.