Frederick Neill

Colonel Sir Frederick Austin Neill, CBE, DSO, TD, JP, DL (11 November 1891 – 11 August 1967) was an English businessman, public administrator, local politician and soldier.

Early life Frederick Austin Neill was born in Sheffield on 11 November 1891, the eldest surviving son of James Neill, JP, who was the founder of a number of steel tool manufacturing firms, including James Neill & Co. Ltd. and Hallamshire Steel Co. Ltd, which were held under the parent company James Neill Holdings Ltd.

Career and honours Neill attended Wrekin College and then spent two years in Germany to gain business experience; in 1910 he began working for the family company, and although he was appointed a director in 1916, he mostly spent the First World War in Europe. He had joined the 49th West Riding Divisional Engineers in 1913, serving with them in France from 1915 to 1918 and earning the Distinguished Service Order and the French Croix de Guerre in the process.

A keen golfer, Neill played for Yorkshire. He died on 11 August 1967, aged 75, at his home Whinfell House, Whirlow, Sheffield; he was survived by his wife, Winifred Margaret, daughter of Robert Colver, JP, of Rockmount in Ranmoor; they had a son, Hugh, and three daughters.