Brothers

Charles and William Neitz

25th Battalion (Nova Scotia Rifles)

First World War

Studio portrait photo of the two brothers in uniform. Their names are handwritten on the back of the original photo. Unfortunately it is not known which man is Charles and which man is William. Both wear seven button tunics with Oliver pattern waist belts and peaked caps. 25^th Battalion cap badges are visible on their caps. Both men hold swagger sticks in their hands. The location is not identified but it was probably taken in Nova Scotia before they went overseas.

The brothers were born in Yarmouth, NS, the sons of Charles and Emeline Neitz. They both enlisted in the 25^th Battalion (Nova Scotia Rifles) in Halifax on the same day.

Military Service Records

Charles Neitz was born on August 10, 1894. His trade was listed as cigar maker and he was single. He enlisted in the 25^th Battalion (Nova Scotia Rifles) in Halifax on November 19, 1914, and was issued the service number 67462 and assigned the rank of private. Charles trained in Nova Scotia and went overseas to England with his battalion in May, 1915. After several months of training in England the battalion crossed the English Channel to France and soon moved into the trenches of the Western Front. Charles was wounded at the end of January, 1916, receiving a gunshot wound to his scalp. He was hospitalized in France for treatment for approximately a week. Later he was hospitalized again suffering from a knee injury and “shell shock”. He received treatment in France and England before being sent back to Canada in September, 1917. He received further medical treatment in Canada before being discharged from the army on April 6, 1918 as being no longer physically fit for war service. Sometime during his stay in England, Charles married. He passed away in Camp Hill Hospital in Halifax, NS, on November 23, 1964.

William Henry Neitz was born on December 7, 1895. He was working as an assistant freight agent when he enlisted in 25^th Battalion (Nova Scotia Rifles) in Halifax, on November 19, 1914. He was issued the service number 67466 and assigned the rank of private. William was single at the time but married before he went overseas. William trained in Nova Scotia and went overseas to England with his battalion in May, 1915. After several months of training in England the battalion crossed the English Channel to France and soon moved into the trenches of the Western Front. On July 1, 1916, the 25^th Battalion was in Brigade Reserve just behind the front. The men of the battalion were divided between Scottish Woods and Dickebusch in Belgium. Each night the battalion sent working parties into the front lines to repair barbed wire and repair and/or dig trenches. William Neitz was a member of a working party when he was shot and killed on July 5, 1916. He was 21 years old. William was laid to rest in Bedford House Cemetery in Belgium.

For additional information on William Henry Neitz, refer to the Wartime Heritage Association website at the following links:

Remembering World War 1 Yarmouth Connections – William Henry Neitz

Letters From the Front

Photographer:  Unknown
Ref. Number:  0-4 (12-1-3.3)
Image Information:  Scan of original photo
Source:  Robert MacLellan Collection