L/Sgt 15959 Neville Brookes Fogg

• Age: 32
• From: Paraguay
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Monday 1st May 1916
• Commemorated at: Cerisy-gailly Mil Cem
  Panel Ref: II.H.3

Born in Paraguay in 1884, Neville and his sister, Nora, aged 16 years, came to England whilst children and in 1891 are living with their grandparents, William Brookes, a 64 years old spirit merchant, and his wife Mary, at 19 Westcliffe Road, Birkdale, Southport. Also living with them are their daughters, Ada Brookes aged 24 years and Mary J. Fogg, widow, 29 years old - presumably the mother of Neville and Nora. We know that Neville’s father was Nathaniel Birtles Fogg who married Mary Jane Brookes in 1881. Their children, Neville and Nora, were born in Paraguay in 1883/4 respectively but by 1891 they are back in England. Nathaniel died in Southport in 1889.

The 1891 Census shows the family at Westcliffe Road as above.

By 1901, Mary Jane Fogg, a widow, born in Ardwick, Manchester, and “living on her own means” is living with her two children at 26 Cavendish Road, Birkdale.

In 1911, Neville, a 27 years old bank clerk, is shown as the Head, with his sister Nora and his aunt, Ada Elizabeth Brookes, living with him. Mary Jane is down in the south of England with relatives.

On 2^nd September 1914, Neville enlisted in Liverpool, giving his age as 30 years 234 days (he seems to have been born on 23^rd November 1883), his occupation as Bank Clerk and his next of kin as his sister who is names as Mrs Oswald Fogg, of ‘Dunraven’, Hooton Road, Willaston. On enlistment, Neville states that he has previously served 10 years in the Army. His past service was obviously recognised for on 23^rd November 1914 he was appointed paid Lance Corporal; on 3^rd April 1915 he was promoted to Corporal; and on 1^st September 1915 was appointed Paid Lance Sergeant. 

On 7^th November 1915 he landed in France and qualified as a machine gunner. On 4^th April 1916 he was admitted to 55^th Field Ambulance as “sick” and rejoined his Unit on 9^th April. 3 weeks later, on 1^st May 1916, he was killed in action and his grave, II H 3, is in Cerisy-Gailly Cemetery.

The Southport Visitor of 11th May 1916 brought news of his death;

"We regret to state that Sergeant Neville Brooks Fogg, King's (Liverpool Regiment) has been killed in action in France. Sergt Fogg, who was in his 33rd year was a son of the late Mr and Mrs Nathaniel B Fogg, who resided for many years in Birkdale".  

His effects and later his 3 medals were sent to Mrs Nora B. Fogg, ‘Dunraven’, Hooton Road, Willaston and in May 1919, the declaration as to relatives was sworn by Oswald Fogg, his cousin, of ‘Honister’, Raby Drive, Bromborough. In this document, Oswald declares that Neville’s parents are both dead and Neville has a surviving brother, Joseph, aged 54 years, living in South America, and a sister, Nora Beatrice Fogg, ‘Honister’ etc.- and records show that Nora Beatrice married Oswald S. Fogg in Jan/March 1913 in Southport . Oswald also declares that Neville has 2 surviving half-sisters - Mary Birtles Fogg, 56 years, and Charlotte Frances Gardner, nee Fogg, 55 years, who both live at 9 Rutland Gardens, Hove, Sussex, where Charlotte, a widow, is shown living in the 1911 Census. Nathaniel, a railway contractor, had in fact been married in 1860, when he was 22 years old, to Mary nee Jones, the marriage having taken place in Liverpool, although they were living in Southport at 48 Talbot Street in 1871. They had at least 4 children before Mary died, including Mary Birtles Fogg, Charlotte , Joseph and Anne, born 1862. Neville and Nora were the children of Nathaniel’s second wife.

We currently have no further information on Neville Brookes Fogg. If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.