Sir Philip Neame: Victoria Cross Recipient and Olympic Gold Medallist

Sir Philip Neame Cheltenham College Archives

Photographs of Sir Philip Neame.

Left image courtesy of Cheltenham College Archives. Right image: public domain.

Hockey player Sir Philip Neame was born on 12 December 1888. He was awarded a Victoria Cross (VC) in the First World War (WW1) and a decade later he won a gold medal at the 1924 Olympic Games – the only person to have achieved both.

Sharp-eyed readers will realise that there was no hockey tournament during the Paris Olympic Games of 1924. Sir Philip received his medal for shooting. However, he was a very good hockey player.

Sir Philip Neame's Olympic record: Olympedia – Philip Neame

Philip Neame played his first hockey at school at Cheltenham College, from where twelve former pupils have been awarded VCs (all conflicts). He went straight from school into the Army and is recorded as playing for the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich hockey team in 1906, the year that he joined the Army. This was the start of a lifelong and extremely distinguished military career that extended beyond WW2, with him retiring as a Lt. General in 1947.

His 41-year Army career reads like a who's who of military life, however, mention must be made of his VC which was awarded for the following gallantry:

"For conspicuous bravery near Neuve Chappelle, when notwithstanding the heavy rifle fire and bomb throwing by the enemy, he succeeded in holding them back and rescuing all the wounded men whom it was possible to move."

Philip Neame's Victoria Cross citation from a register of VC recipients.

Sir Philip will undoubtedly feature in The Hockey Museum’s forthcoming publication Hockey's Military Stories where there will be a much fuller version of his amazing life. However, keen-eyed hockey players who enjoy a pint of beer may recognise the name Neame as part of Shepherd Neame brewers, which was one of the family interests. This too has a military connection. Their most famous ale Spitfire beer had the memorable tag line (c.1997) of “Downed all over Kent, just like the Luftwaffe”!

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