East Surrey Regiment captain's defiant gesture at the Battle of the Somme remembered in Epsom 100 years on

A century on, his morale-boosting gesture of defiance, was remembered when a replica of the original ball was delivered to Bourne Hall Museum in Spring Street, Epsom.

Re-enactor Tim Richardson is trailed by Alan Parsons

The ball was carried by the 10th Essex Living History Group, who cycled in WW1 uniform between the Surrey regimental chapels at Guildford and Kingston, stopping at the museum.

The ball arrived on Friday afternoon (April 29) via Ashley Road to the Clock Tower, where it was met by Councillor Chris Frost, mayor of Epsom and Ewell, and school children, then onwards to Bourne Hall.

Museum assistant, David Brooks, said: “When Captain Billy Neville kicked a football into no man’s land towards the German trenches, on July 1st 1916 it was his way of taking his men’s mind off what they were to face.

“It must have worked because the men followed and took the enemy position.

“Sadly Billy was killed in the attack. Epsom lost 10 men on the first day of the battle and nearly 400 died out of 4,000. So it’s important that we remember those terrible events and all the men that died.”

L-R: Ian Church, Tim Richardson, Mayor Chris Frost, Cllr Liz Frost and Alan Parsons

Mr Brooks revealed that the ball contains a distinctive bootstrap and is very heavy, adding that it wouldn’t be a good idea to head it.

Two of the four original balls were recovered by the British Army as they overwhelmed enemy lines and one was destroyed in the recent fire at Clandon House, the National Trust home near Guildford.

The replica ball is due to be taken to the Somme battlefield where it will visit the grave of Capt Neville and will be kicked across the same trajectory in no man’s land, to where the German trenches once stood.

Tim Richardson hands the football to Mayor Chris Frost

Bourne Hall Museum is arranging a Somme Day on June 18 to enable visitors to learn more about the battle and those involved.