O'NEIL, Fitzgerald
| Service Number: | 6808 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 7th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Scone, New South Wales, Australia., 20 February 1889 |
| Home Town: | Sydney, City of Sydney, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Tram Driver |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Belgium, 20 September 1917, aged 28 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Flanders, Belgium |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Haymarket NSW Government Railway and Tramway Honour Board, Scone Barwick House War Memorial Arch, Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 17 Nov 1916: | Involvement Private, 6808, 7th Infantry Battalion, Third Ypres, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '9' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: SS Port Napier embarkation_ship_number: '' public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 17 Nov 1916: | Embarked Private, 6808, 7th Infantry Battalion, SS Port Napier, Sydney |
Help us honour Fitzgerald O'Neil's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by John Oakes
Fitzgerald O'NEIL (Service Number 6808) was born on 20th February 1889 at Scone. He first worked for the NSW Tramways as a casual conductor from 26th December 1902. In January 1909 he was dispensed with for giving false evidence, but appealed to be re-instated, and this was granted with the loss of pay during the absence to stand as the penalty for his transgression. On 5th September 1910 he became an electric tram driver and it was from this role that he was released to join the Expeditionary Forces on 30th March 1916.
He had in fact enlisted at the RAS Showgrounds a week earlier, giving his father, living at Dry Creek via Scone as his next of kin. He was allotted to the 1st Australian Infantry Battalion he embarked SS ‘Port Napier’ at Sydney on 17th November 1916, reaching Devonport on 29th January 1917. In April O’Neil proceeded overseas to France and was taken on the strength of the 7th Battalion on 10th May. He was killed in action on 20th September 1917 in Belgium. W J Robertson (6817) reported:
‘I knew O’Neil. We called him ‘Fitz’; He was in B. Company VII Platoon with me. He was of medium height and had been a driver on the N.S.W. Railways; We were 22nd Reinforcements to 7th Battalion. Originally at Liverpool we were Reinforcements to the 1st Battalion. He was with me in a shell hole on 20.9.17 near Zonnebeke in Glencross Wood when a shell came over and killed him instantly. I saw it happen. We had to retire about 50 yards back, as we had advanced too far. Private Gunn who knew O’Neill well and was also on the Tramways, took O’Neill’s effects.’
O’Neil has no known grave and that he is therefore remembered on the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Belgium.
The soldier’s death then resulted in another conflict over the distribution of medals and other mementoes. His next of kin, and the legatee of his will was his father. The policy of the government was that medals were not distributed to next of kin, nor in accordance with a will, unless specifically mentioned. They were to go to blood relations by a published hierarchy. O’Neil had an ex-nuptial son, Anthony Carrick, for whom he had being paying maintenance, and who since his death had been receiving a pension. The authorities wrote to the father asking him to acquiesce in their proposal to divide the items between him and the child who had been adopted by his maternal grandmother. She had readily agreed to hold them in trust until the boy was of mature age. John O’Neil wrote:
‘Sirs,
Re your notice concerning my son’s property medals etc. I object to his supposed illegitimate son claiming any of such as he made his will in my favour and I claim his belongings.
Thanking you in anticipation, etc.
John O’Neil’
The decision of the authorities was that:
‘In the circumstances, therefore, it is recommended, in keeping with the usual practice, that the items be divided up as follows:-
(a) Victory Medal and Memorial Scroll to custodian of ex-nuptial child under bond.
(b) British War Medal with Clasps, Memorial Plaque and Brochure – “Where the Australians Rest” to deceased’s father.’
- based on the Australian War Memorial Honour Roll and notes for the Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board.