Biography:
Neville William Wells-Cole was born 30 November 1891, the second son of Gervas Frederic Wells-Cole (E 1875-1879) and Mary Beatrice Wells-Cole, daughter of Charles Brook, of Stones Place, near Lincoln. His younger brother, Victor Henry Wells-Cole, also attended Winchester (G 1910- 1914).
Neville came to Winchester College in September 1905 from a preparatory school at Hindhead. He was in G House, Sergeant's, and was a Commoner Prefect in his last year. He played cricket for Lords XI in 1909 and 1910, being an excellent left-hand bowler – the best seen in many years – and he also played for the Public Schools Cricket XI. After Winchester, playing at Lord’s for the RA against the RE, he made a half-century, including two sixes. He also represented the Public Schools, the MCC, and Lincolnshire.
He left Winchester in the summer of 1910 for RMA Woolwich and obtained a commission in the Royal Artillery in 1911. He went to France on 21 August 1914 with the RFA, and served through the Retreat from Mons. He was tranferred in the following January to the Royal Horse Artillery as a Captain, serving at the front continuously for three and a half years, and was mentioned in Despatches in May 1915 for his part in the Second Battle of Ypres.
In September 1917, Wells-Cole took command of 65th Howitzer Battery in 28 Brigade of the RFA. 28 Brigade was an Army Brigade, not attached to any particular division but used to support major operations. He fell at Langemarck on 6 January 1918, aged twenty-six, and is buried in grave III.G.2 of the Canada Farm Cemetery.
His photograph appeared in the roll of honour in the Illustrated London News of 2 February 1918.
With thanks to Neville's family for the photographs of his grave, his family memorial and his original grave marker.