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Lieutenant Colonel |
Lieutenant
Colonel McNeill was born at Colonsay, Argyllshire, Scotland, on 28 March
1831. He was 33 years old, and a Lieutenant Colonel in the 107th Regiment
(Bengal Infantry - later The Royal Sussex Regiment) during the Waikato-Hauhau
Maori War, New Zealand, when the action for which he was awarded The Victoria Cross took place.
"On 30 March 1864 near Ohaupu, New Zealand, Lieutenant Colonel McNeill was proceeding to Te Awamutu on duty, with two privates, when they saw a party of the enemy in front. The colonel sent one of the privates back to bring up the infantry, but before help could arrive the officer and private were attacked by about 50 natives. In trying to escape the private's horse fell, throwing its rider, and the colonel, seeing his plight, returned, caught the horse and helped the man to mount. Although the enemy were very close and firing sharply, by galloping hard they managed to get away."
Lieutenant Colonel McNeill later achieved the rank of Major General and was knighted.
He died at St James' Palace, London, England, on 25 May 1904, and is buried at Oronsay Priory, Isle of Colonsay, Scotland.
His Victoria Cross is not publicly held.
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