Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Major

Unit:

A Company, 1st Battalion The Westminster Regiment (Motor), 5th Canadian Armoured Brigade, 5th Canadian (Armoured) Division, Canadian Army

Recommendation:
On the evening of 26 April 1945 the Westminster Regiment (Motor) was engaged in the operation to clear up the Delfzijl pocket. “A” Company commanded by Major Neill was ordered to attack the village of Woldendorp and form a base from which the village could be cleared of enemy.
The village was held by three hundred German Marines who had cratered all main approaches and were defending the village from well-built and well-sited defensive positions.
Major Neill personally led his company from the start line across country for two thousand yards, avoiding the main roads and approached the village from the right flank. They encountered a heavily defended road block around which Major Neill quickly deployed his platoon, and attacking the obstacle, took thirty prisoners. He then led the way to the centre of the village and personally sited each platoon to cover all approaches. All this time Major Neill was under heavy enemy shell fire.
At first light the enemy counter-attacked from three sides but were driven off after two hours of heavy fighting, the company having taken thirty-nine prisoners. During this counter-attack Major Neill was a tower of strength personally going from position to position encouraging his men and directing their fire.
All that day the company maintained its foothold and in the evening it was once more counter-attacked. Again this gallant officer, exposing himself to heavy shell and small arms fire, visited all his positions and by his personal courage and bravery so inspired his men that the attack was repulsed. By midnight that night another company was able to fight its way into the village and relieve the pressure. Throughout this time the company was completely cut-off and the sixty-nine prisoners that had been previously taken had to be kept in the platoon positions.
By his outstanding leadership and gallantry Major Neill was able to keep his company in a position behind the enemy lines for over twenty-four hours and was responsible for the complete collapse of the German defence in this sector.

Supplement to the London Gazette, 11 October, 1945.