Photo of George Neech

Following are the titles of photos regarding George Neech

    Enlistment Papers for George Christian Neech


George Christian Neech and his young wife migrated from England to start a new life in Australia. George took a position as school-teacher on 13 Sep 1887 at Morven Queensland.  

From notes made by the interviewer when George was hired as a Teacher ...
Miscellaneous Facts : Sent out by Agent General and arrived in the Colony September 1887. His testimonials are quite satisfactory. Holds a full Drawing Certificate, and the Intermediate and Matriculation Certificates in Tonic Sol (?) for music. Math; First Class Final Stage 12 May 1884; .... Eight Elem. and five avd Science Certs. Cert in Phys. Geo. from Joint B'  (Board?) of the Univ of Oxford Cam.

The Queensland Government Gazette records in 1888 that George was to be the new headteacher at the Blackall State School. He commenced at Blackall on 23 Jan 1888.  On 24 Oct 1893 he was transferred to Geham. He took three months leave on 17 Sep 1899 and relinquished the position as the records show that he never returned.

However, he must have left on favourable terms as he next appears  in 1903 as a delegate from Sandgate Technical college to an annual conference.
(see education.qld.gov.au/corporate/professional_exchange/~
docs/technical/technical-chap2.pdf

In 1920, George published a book "Back to the old stone's age" about building in stone. The book is available for download at http://www.archive.org/details/backtooldstonesa00neec

George established, owned and edited the "Sandgate and Nundah Despatch" newspaper printed in Station Street, Nundah (near Brisbane). While in Nundah, George was presented with a conductor's baton indicating a continuing interest and participation in music. George composed a 'National Song - COO-EE' for which he gained copyright from the Queensland Government.  A copy is held in the National Archives referenced as follows:
TITLE: "Coo-ee" [National song by George NEECH 1889] [NOTE: Registration and exhibit]; Item barcode:  659411;  Series number: A1716;  Series ascession number: A1716; Control symbol: 15; Contents date range: 1889 - 1889; Location: National Office.

George also has a musical score in the National Archives, referenced as follows:
AUTHOR: George Christian Neech; ADDRESS Brisbane : TITLE OF WORK: Merry are the Bells; TYPE OF WORK: Musical; APPLICANT George Christian Neech; DATE OF APPLICATION 16 Sep 1921; DATE COPYRIGHT REGISTERED: 5 Oct 1921. WORK ENCLOSED?: Yes.

The British Library also has several works by George
a) Back to the Old Stone's Age. [With illustrations.], Elliot Stock: London, 1920
b) Libretto. Children's operetta Zan-Tan, etc., pp. 21. Barcaldine, 1888
c) The Landing March. [P. F.], 1917
d) Boys of the old battalion.. Song.. 1918
e) In Australia.. Song.. 1918

George served in WW1 as a Captain in the 9th Battalion.  There is a pocket azimuth compass and a pocket aneroid barometer that were given to George Neech. Both carry the inscription ... "Presented to Capt G. C. Neech by Ratepayers of Nundah and its Progress Association on the eve of his departure for active service in Egypt 12-2-15".

Details from the AIF database ....
Date of birth 17 September 1867
Occupation Journalist
Marital status Married
Age at embarkation 47
Next of kin Mrs E J Neech, Nundah, Queensland
Enlistment Date 1 February 1915
Rank on enlistment Captain
Unit name 9th Battalion, 3rd Reinforcement
Embarkation details Unit embarked from Brisbane, Queensland, on board HMAT A49 Seang Choon on 13 February 1915
Rank from Nominal Roll Captain
Unit from Nominal Roll 9th Battalion
Promotions Captain

Unit: PSL Australian Infantry Base Depot
Promotion date: 1 February 1915
Fate Effective abroad (still overseas)  
Date of death 8 March 1932


After the war his overseas service injuries in made it necessary to sell the Nundah newspaper.

He later moved to Dalby (Western Queensland) where he was a journalist on the local "Herald" newspaper up until his death. His obituary is just glowing about his contribution to the local community.

According to council records, George was buried at Dalby (Old) Cemetery in south-western Queensland on March 8, 1932.

OBITUARY in Brisbane Courier Mail 22-Mar-1932 ...
Captain G. C. Neech.
The death of Captain George
Christian Neech took place at his home
in Dalby on March 8. The deceased
was a native of Croydon, Surrey, England,
Fix this textand was born in 1865, arriving
in Brisbane in 1887. For a short time
he was in the Normal School, and was
then sent to take charge of the Morven
School, where he remained for several
years. From there he was transferred
to Blackall, where he was joined by
his wife, whom he had married at St.
John's Wood, London, just before leaving
for Australia. In 1901 he resigned
from the Department of Public
Instruction and entered journalism,
conducting a Sandgate paper. He became
associated with the 9th Moreton
Regiment, in which he gained a commission,
and at the outbreak of war in
1914 he held the rank of Captain in
the Regiment. His name was amongst
the enlistments the day war was
declared. With his Battalion he was at
the landing on Gallipoli, and saw
considerable service there. Invalided
to England, he was placed in
charge of various camps on Salisbury
Plains, and later at Havre, where he
had charge of a transport camp. After
the declaration of peace he remained
in England on military duty, and was
lecturer of the A.I.F. on Historic
Architecture in connection with the
vocational training scheme then
established. The deceased returned to
Queensland in 1919 and took up a
property near Caboolture, but later
returned to journalism, and settled in
Dalby. In addition to his widow, he is
survived by his adopted son, Mr. R.
Neech.

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Source : J Neech & P Collins