WEST MIDLANDS POLICE GREAT WAR MEMORIAL SITE
GERALD ALOYSIUS NEILAN
Gerald
Neilan was born on 7th June 1881, the second son of John (of Ballygalda,
Roscommon) and Eva (nee Kelly) Neilan of 4, Mount Harold Terrace, Leinster Road,
Dublin. Second eldest of seven children. He has 5 brothers and two sisters. His
father was a farmer and local Justice of the Peace. He was educated at
Clongrowes Wood College, County Kildare.
Gerald joined the army after school and served in the Sherwood Foresters in the
South African War.
Gerald joined the Birmingham City Police on 18th January 1908 and served on the
‘D’ Division with warrant number 7675.
In 1911, Gerald was one of 32 police officers lodging at Duke Street Police
Station, Birmingham.
Gerald resigned on 20th December 1914 to rejoin the Army and was immediately
given a commission, being gazetted to the 24th Battalion, Northumberland
Fusiliers. He later transferred to the Royal Dublin Fusiliers and by early
1916 he was serving in Dublin engaged in recruitment duties. Gerald
was killed on the first day of the Irish Rebellion, Easter Monday 1916, at the
Mendicity Institute on Usher Island, this being a poorhouse on the Liffey quays,
when it was attacked and seized by the Irish rebels.
Gerald is buried in Glasnevin Cemetery, Dublin in St Bridgets section.