Regimental number | 1260 |
Place of birth | Gympie Queensland |
Religion | Roman Catholic |
Occupation | Stockman |
Address | Glastonbury, Gympie, Queensland |
Marital status | Single |
Age at embarkation | 19 |
Next of kin | Mother, Mrs Helen O'Neill, Glastonbury, Gympie, Queensland |
Enlistment date | |
Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll | |
Rank on enlistment | Private |
Unit name | 42nd Battalion, A Company |
AWM Embarkation Roll number | 23/59/1 |
Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A30 Borda on |
Rank from Nominal Roll | Private |
Unit from Nominal Roll | Army Provost Corps |
Recommendations (Medals and Awards) |
Military Medal 'Courage and devotion to duty as runner.' (Near Le barque, 24-26 February 1917). Recommendation date: |
Fate | Returned to Australia |
Miscellaneous information from cemetery records | Plaque in Queensland Garden of Remembrance |
Medals |
Military Medal 'Near LE BARQUE, FRANCE, on 24/26 February, 1917, Private O'NEILL displayed the greatest bravery and devotion to duty throughout the operations. He was employed as a runner between Battalion headquarters and the front line, to which he had to continually pass through heavy artillery and machine gun fire, and enemy sniping.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 140 Date: |
Other details |
War service: Western Front Extract from 9th Battalion History, Pages 196-197, 1914-1918: On this day Lieutenant Divine was killed. Lieutenant Bailey was also killed. Lieutenant Bluett was mortally wounded, his lower jaw being shot away. Lieutenant Wheatley was wounded. The Battalions position was shelled all the next day, but 5 November proved to be quiet on its front. On account of the heavy shell-fire the telephone lines were constantly being broken, and in consequence much of the communication depended on the runners. In this hazardous work, Kevin O'Neill out-shone the others. On one occasion he was given a message for all companies. He set off with it, and about one hour later he returned, reported that the messages had been delivered and then collapsed . He had been wounded in the chest soon after leaving Headquarters, but he had completed his task before succumbing to the wound. On the evening of 5 November the Battalion was relieved by the 2nd Battalion and went back in small parties to Ypres. The total casualties for this tour on the line were seven officers and 102 others. Medals: Military Medal, British War Medal, Victory Medal |
Date of death |