Ernest Neville Snepp was born on 10 Aug 1880. He was the son of Rev. E H Snepp of Edmondsham, Dorset. He was educated at Marlborough and entered the 2nd Battalion Norfolk Regiment in May 1901. He served in the Boer War in 1901, and c1910, as a captain, was seconded to the Northern Nigeria Regiment. He fought in the First World War with the 1st Battalion and was wounded by a shell on 20 Oct 1914 while at the front between Festubert and Givenchy.
With the rank of major he was transferred from the 1st Battalion and took over command of the 8th (Service) Battalion on 8 Oct 1917, while the CO, Lt-Col Ferguson went on 6 months leave. But on 5 Nov 1917 the History says, ‘Lieutenant-Colonel E.N.Snepp was seriously wounded by long range gun fire, when the battalion was resting in huts some considerable distance from the firing line.’ The 8th Battalion was disbanded in February 1918.
He emigrated to South Africa and lived in Seaton, Camp Ground Road, Rondesbosch. He was married to Marjorie Lilian Atchison Watts. They had at least one child, Clare Marjorie Neville Snepp born on 12 July 1921. He was uncle to the actress Vera Neville (née Vera Blanche Neville Snepp).
1901 2nd Lieutenant 4 May
1904 Lieutenant 14 Oct
1909 Captain 11 Mar
1918 Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel 3 Jun
1921 retired as Lieutenant-Colonel 22 Oct
Regimental Details | Commanding Officers
