Able Seaman William Marshall Neiass DSM
HMS Cumberland, Royal Navy
Died in hospital
Date of Birth: 2 April 1875
Place of Birth: Teignmouth, Devon
Date of Death: 29 September 1918 aged 43
Buried: Teignmouth Cemetery; remembered on Seafront Memorial and St. James’ Church Memorial Window, Teignmouth, Devon
Awarded the Distinguished Service Cross,
the 1914 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal
Distinguished Service Cross
Able Seaman William Marshall Neiass, DSM, age 43.
Born 2 April 1875, baptised on 24 June at West Teignmouth, Devon, the son of Edwin, a mariner, and Ellen Neiass of Parson Street. In 1881 he was shown living with his mother and brother in Middle Street, Shaldon.
The 1911 census showed him living with his widowed mother and one brother at 2 Stanley Street, Teignmouth; he was working in the Royal Navy.
On the 1918 absent voters list he was shown living with his sister Ellen Robins and brother-in-laws at 26 Teign Street.
William joined the Royal Navy, service number 155995 (DEV) in the early 1890’s and was a naval pensioner when war broke out. He immediately joined up, none of his service records exist, but it is known that William was gazetted on 15 May 1916 for services rendered at Gallipoli during 1915; he was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal.
In 1918 he was serving on HMS Cumberland, which arrived from America and docked in Plymouth on 22 September. Three ratings were discharged to the Naval Hospital and possibly William was one of these as he died of disease on 29 September 1918.
On 3 October 1918 he was buried in Teignmouth Cemetery; remembered on Seafront Memorial and St. James’ Church Memorial Window, Teignmouth.
William was the older brother of Harry Cowling Neiass who died in 1917. His brother Thomas of 2 Stanley Road was named as his next of kin.
“Neiass, William, Seaman DSC. Brother-in - law of Mr & Mrs Robins, Teign St. RN Serving on destroyers in the Mediterranean, has won the DSC, received award on 13 August, 1916, now on Torpedo boats.”
Teignmouth Post - 16 July 1916
HMS Cumberland
The Cumberland was one of 10 Monmouth-class armoured cruisers built for the Navy in the early 1900s, she spent most of the war on convoy escort duties and patrolling for German raiders.
H. M. S. CUMBERLAND 1909 © IWM (Q 21133)
