Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Alex O’Neill was amongst the first Australians to enlist during September 1914.

Being one of the originals of the 12th Battalion he wrote a long letter home at Christmas time 1914 describing his voyage and Egypt. It was published in the Collie Mail,

“….The very first opportunity I had I went off to have a look at the Pyramids. They are huge structures, built with enormous blocks of stone. I climbed to the top of the main one, which is about 460 feet high and covers about 11 acres of ground. I also got a guide and had a look inside of it. There are many damp passages in it and I saw the vaults and coffins of kings and queens with unpronounceable names. Altogether it is very awe-inspiring. There is another of these Pyramids here which was supposed to be unscalable. Previous to the coming of this contingent, I understand, the only person known to have climbed it was an Arab, and now already there have been half-a-dozen Australians to the top. Another grand piece of workmanship is the Sphinx, which is hewn out of a huge piece of stone and stands some 50 or 60 feet high. I have only had a couple of trips into Cairo and am therefore not able to give anything like the adequate description it deserves, but I hope to do so at some future date. The thing that struck me first when having a look round this wonderful city was the awful immorality of the place. It is simply disgusting to say the least of it. The Australian soldiers have taken charge of the place and no matter where you go you meet them in droves. We have had some great times with the donkeys, and already some live artist has got post-cards out showing the famous Australian horsemen mounted on all sorts and sizes of donkeys….There are a couple of battalions of territorials garrisoned in Cairo, they are a fine lot of fellows, but are terribly small. They look like cadets compared to our chaps. There is no doubt the Australian contingent is a fine body of men.”

Alexander was wounded in action during the landing at Anzac Cove with the 12th Battalion. He was evacuated to Egypt after the first week of the landing and returned to Gallipoli during mid-June 1915. He was promoted to Corporal in August 1915.

After Gallipoli was evacuated, he was transferred to the 52nd Battalion during the ‘doubling’ of the AIF. Soon after he promoted to Company Quarter Master Sergeant. During the 52nd Battalion’s first big battle in France, an assault on Mouquet Farm, he was recommended for an award after he volunteered to lead several carrying parties through a heavy bombardment to the front-line trenches. He was awarded a French Croix de Guerre Medal, and promoted to Company Sergeant Major soon after.

In January 1917 he was mortally wounded and died in an Australian Field Ambulance and was buried the next day by Reverend Blackwood, the 52nd Battalion chaplain.

The following was published in the Collie Mail during February 1918.

THE LATE SERGT. MAJOR ALEX. O'NEILL

Mrs T. Goodall, of Collie, has received the following communication regarding her son, Company Sergt Major A. W. O’Neill:— Base Record, Office, Melbourne, 25th January, 1918. To Mrs. J. Goodall, Wittenoon Street, Collie, W.A.

Dear Madam,

It is with feelings of admiration at the gallantry of a brave Australian soldier who nobly laid down his life in the service of our King and Country, that I am directed by the Honourable the Minister to forward to you, as the next-of-kin of the late No. 853 Company Sergeant-Major A. W. O'Neill, 52nd Battalion, Australian Imperial Force, the Croix De Guerre which was conferred upon that gallant soldier by the President of the French Republic for conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty while serving with the Australian Imperial Expeditionary Force. I am also to ask you to accept his deep personal sympathy in the loss which, not only you, but the Australian Army has sustained by the death of Company Sergeant-Major A. W. O'Neill, whose magnificent conduct on the field of battle helped to earn for our Australian soldiers a fame which will endure as long as memory lasts. I shall be obliged if you will kindly let me know whether it comes safely to hand by returning the attached receipt slip. Yours faithfully, (Signed) J. M LEAN, Major, Officer I/C Base Records.