Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Joseph March Neal, a game keeper, born 1858 in Billesdon, Leicestershire and his wife Ellen Alice Neal (nee Glover, married on the 10th December 1889 in the parish church, Enderby), born 1863 in Enderby, Leicestershire. John Harry was born on the 3rd November 1890 in Enderby and was baptised on the 7th December 1890 in the parish church, Enderby, in April 1891 the family home was at Keepers Cottage, Harolds Lane, Enderby. In March 1901 John was residing in the family home at The Park, Harolds Lane, Enderby, together with his father, a domestic game keeper, his mother and siblings, George Glover, born 26th April 1892 and baptised on the 3rd July 1892 in the parish church, Enderby, Dorothy Mary, born 12th March 1894 and baptised on the 13th May 1894 in the parish church, Enderby and Alfred Maurice, born 10th April 1896 and baptised on the 10th May 1896 in the parish church, Enderby, all his siblings were born in Enderby. In April 1911 John was employed as a County Council teacher and was residing in the family home at The Warren, Enderby, together with his father, a game keeper, his mother and siblings, George, a Co-operative Society grocer, Dorothy, Maurice and Geoffrey March Glover, born 19th September 1909 in Enderby and baptised on the 11th December 1909 in the parish church, Enderby. John was officially recorded at birth with the surname spelling of Neal, however the alternate spelling of Neale was also widely used by all the family members. John was awarded the British War and Victory medals.
The War Diary records: 1 Oct-17 - FRONT LINE. The night was extremely quiet, the absence of hostile shelling was particularly noticeable. At 5.30am a heavy hostile barrage was placed on the front line, and 100 yards west of the road in J.10.a central. This was maintained until 6.00am when it became evident that a hostile counter attack on the 9th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT was in progress. The S.O.S. was sent up by the 9th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT on the right, also by this Battalion, and a heavy barrage was placed on and in front of the enemy lines. Heavy Lewis Gun and rifle fire was immediately brought to bear on the threatened flank. A few minutes after 6.00am, a message was received from the 9th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT that the enemy had gained possession of their front line. About 6.30am, small parties of the enemy were seen about JOIST FARM J.10.d.2.0 moving by short rushes towards our right front line Company and threatening to turn the right flank of the Battalion. Heavy Lewis Gun and rifle fire was opened on the enemy, who suffered casualties and were unable to make any progress down the slope towards the front line. About this time the intensity of our barrage lessened, and towards 7.00am ceased altogether. Between 7.00 and 10.30am the enemy made repeated attempts to advance against the open flank of the Battalion, but was driven back on each occasion by rifle and Lewis Gun fire. During this period it was found that the 9th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT had been reinforced by two Companies of the 7th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT and were holding the line of the road running north and south in J.10.a. A defensive flank was formed from the right flank of “B” Company J.10.d.35.50 to Battalion Headquarters at J.10.c.5.5. The right support Company (“A”) moved up to the road and linked up with Battalion Headquarters on the left, and the left Company of the 9th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT on the right. At 10.15am Captain J. B. MATTHEWS with the left support company (“D”) moved from its position J.10.a.3.2 in order to make a counter-attack against the enemy holding the high ground in the vicinity of JOIST FARM. Unfortunately Captain J. B. MATTHEWS M.C. was killed instantly by a sniper when making a personal reconnaissance preparatory to the attack, and at 10.30am the hostile artillery put down a heavy barrage on the east side of POLYGON WOOD consequently this counter thrust did not materialise. This heavy hostile barrage was kept up until 1.00pm at which hour the shelling ceased, but no further hostile attack took place. At 2.00pm small parties of the enemy were seen moving about the south west edge of JETTY WARREN, but were dispersed by rifle fire, Shortly afterwards a hostile Machine Gun opened traversing fire along the road in J.10.c central, and Lieutenant Colonel UTTERSON D.S.O. was hit in the arm by a bullet. At 3.10pm a determined effort was made by the enemy 10 or 12 strong to move down the slope from JOIST FARM towards Battalion Headquarters but the attempt was stopped by rifle fire from the Battalion Headquarters concrete emplacement, the enemy retiring and leaving several dead behind them. No further attempt to advance was made by the enemy and the remainder of the afternoon passed quietly. At 6.10pm the S.O.S. signal was put up by the Brigade on the right and an exceptionally heavy barrage was placed on the enemy lines by our artillery. No hostile attack developed and at 8.00pm the barrage ceased. At 8.05pm the enemy attempted a counter-attack against the ROYAL WELSH FUSILIERS on the left. The S.O.S. was again sent up and a second barrage of an hour’s duration was placed on enemy lines. The counter attack was beaten back with loss to the enemy. The remainder of the night passed quietly and at dawn a protective barrage was formed by our artillery lasting for 15 minutes.