Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Alfred Neal, a hosiery trade worker, born 1859 in Barrow upon Soar, Leics., and his wife Mary Neal (nee Birch, married Q1 1884 in the Barrow upon Soar, Leics. district), born 1864 in Barrow upon Soar, Leics. Horace Joseph was born on the 27th September 1896 in Barrow upon Soar, Leics., his siblings were, Edward, a hosiery trade stock keeper, born 1885, Florence Mary, a hosiery trade worker, born 1886, Eliza Annie a hosiery trade worker, born 1887, Eliza, born 1892, Philip Harold, born 1895, Rose, born 1899 and Clarice, born 1901, all his siblings were born in Barrow upon Soar, Leics., in March 1901 the family home was at Bread Croft Lane, Barrow upon Soar, Leics. In April 1911, Horace was employed as a hosiery trade runner on and was residing in the family home at 26, New Street, Barrow upon Soar, Leics., together with his parents and siblings, Florence, a hosiery trade worker, Eliza, a hosiery trade worker, Alice Agnes, a Griswold worker, born 1889 in Barrow upon Soar, Leics., Philip, an elastic trade weaver, Rose, a school girl, Clarice, a schoolgirl and Winifred Elsie, born 1907 In Barrow upon Soar, Leics. Horace enlisted on the 15th November 1915 and embarked to join the British Expeditionary Force in France on the 9th October 1916, joining his unit, the Hawke Battalion on the 25th November 1916 and serving with this unit until he suffered a gun shot wound to the head on the 4th February 1917 and was invalided to England on the 10th February 1917. He embarked to join the British Expeditionary Force in France on the 15th June 1917, re-joining the Hawke Battalion on the 6th July 1917 and serving with this unit until he suffered a shell wound to the chest and was admitted to the 149th Royal Navy Field Ambulance, where he died from his wounds on the 29th December 1917.