Born on 6th April 1888 in Horsham, Sussex, Second Lieutenant Bostock was killed in action near Arras, France, on 22nd April 1917, aged 29.

He was the sixth and youngest son of Dr Edward Ingram (1842-1926), Justice of the Peace, and Sarah Bostock (nee Southey-Baker, 1845-1920) of Horsham, Sussex and, and one of ten children:

• Eva May (b. 1875)
• John Southey (1875-1930)
• Archibald Thomas(1877-1915)
• Robert Vernon (1878-1949)
• Agnes Helen (1878-1961) Alpen (b. 1880)
• Constance (1881-1967)
• Francis E H (1883-1955)
• Dorothy (1884-1964)
• Edward Lyon (1886-1917)

Neville attended Saint Ronan’s from 1896 until 1901, alongside his older brother Edward.

Together with Edward, he went on to Haileybury where he was in Colvin and Edmonstone House. He played for the XI, alongside his former schoolmate, Archdale Gillam. Neville left in 1905.

Neville Bostock (top row 8th from the left) with Edward Bostock (top row, far right), Haileybury 1902

In February 1906, alongside Edward, Neville, travelled to Canada, as a farmer. He was 18. He went on to join the Royal North West Mounted Mounted Police. At the outbreak of war, the brothers returned home, with Neville gaining his commission with the Royal Field Artillery in 1916. He served with the British Expeditionery Force in France and Flanders.

He was killed instananeously by a shell in action near Arras, France on 22nd April 1917. His Major wrote:

“He is a great loss as an officer and is dreadfully missed. His knowledge of horseflesh and horsemanship made him invaluable”.

And the Captain of his Battery wrote to his parents:

“Your son was always cheery and capable and I miss him more than I can say.”

All of the boys served in the War with two of his brothers, Archibald and Edward also being lost:

• John Southey Bostock (1875-1930) gained his Bachelor of Medicine at Edinburgh in 1900. He became a Captain in the Royal Army Medical Corps in 1909. In 1913, he served in India as a Major, before going on to serve in France and Belgium. He became a Colonel in 1930 ad Commandant of the Royal Army Medical Corps. He was awarded the CBE.

• Archibald Thomas (1877-1915) fought in the Boer War in 1899-1902 with the Suffolk Yeomanry. He went to China where he worked as an engineer on the Canton to Hankow railway. At the outbreak of War, he resigned this position and returned to England. He was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Northumberland Fusiliers (14th Battalion) on 5th January 1915, and was promoted to Captain on 14th April. He went to France and died at the Duchess of Westminster’s Hospital at La Touquet on 30th September 1915 from wounds received at the Battle of Loos on 26th. A brother-officer wrote, “He was a splendid officer and friend and always did more than his duty, and I miss him terribly. On the fateful Sunday, we were in a very trying position and he was coolness personified: in fact, he was wonderful…. I cannot tell you what a help he was to me”.

• Robert Vernon (1878-1949) had joined the South African Mounted Rifles in 1900, and took part in the South African War. In World War I he was a Lieutenant of the 1st Battalion Seaforth Highlanders serving in Palestine. He was wounded in 1918. He subsequently went to Australia and engaged in fruit farming.

• Francis Edward Henry (1883-1955) served as a Lieutenant with the Royal Field Artillery (57th Division), and was wounded on 12th October 1918. He was Mentioned in Despatches and was awarded the Military Cross. He continued his military career and became a Major. After the War, he returned to his education, attending Cambridge University and earning a BA in 1922 and Masters in 1926. He went on to live in South Africa. A detailed account of his life in Africa is given in “The Chronicles of Capota 1927-1943”, subtitled “The Travels in Africa of Major Francis E H Bostock, MC (1883-1955)”.

• Neville Stanley (1888-1917) was a Second Lieutenant with the Royal Field Artillery, 162nd Brigade, “B” Battery. He was killed in action near Arras, France on 22nd April 1917, aged 29. He had also attended Saint Ronan’s and his story is told in more detail on his profile.

It is believed that one of his sisters, Dorothy (1884-1963), worked as a nurse in France during the War.