John McNeil was the son of John and Isabella McNeil. He was born in Cookstown, County Tyrone in 1879. No record of the family living in the Cookstown area can be found in either the 1901 or 1911 census. John was living and working in Cambuslang, Glasgow, when he enlisted with the Gordon Highlanders. Private John McNeil was serving with the 1st Battalion of the Gordon Highlanders when he was killed in action on Saturday 25th September 1915.
Ypres (now Ieper) is a town in the Province of West Flanders. The Memorial is situated at the eastern side of the town on the road to Menin (Menen) and Courtrai (Kortrijk). Each night at 8 pm the traffic is stopped at the Menin Gate while members of the local Fire Brigade sound the Last Post in the roadway under the Memorial's arches.
