Richard was born in March 1880, in the East Flanders village of
Elsegem. He marries Marie Vindevogel in 1903.
Their first daughter Angelica is born one year later. The couple will
have eight children in total. In 1911 Richard chooses to emigrate to Canada. Initially
he leaves on his own. He brings over his wife and children later. On 6 January 1916
Richard enlists as a volunteer. He is already almost 36 years old at the time.
It is only in early March 1917 that private Van Neste finally ends up on the
front. On 6 November Richard and his comrades are in front lines during one of
the offensives near Passchendaele. Richard is shot in the right thigh and right
leg. He is not admitted to a field hospital until 8 November. He is transferred
to No. 10 C.C.S., the British evacuation hospital in Lijssenthoek the same day.
He dies from his injuries two days later. In 1921 Marie returns to Belgium with
the children.
