Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Published Biography

Blood Sweat and Fears: Medical Practitioners and Medical Students of South Australian who Served in World War 1, C Verco, A Summers, T Swain & M Jelly. July 2014

Note – some details in the BS&F biography differ from the research on the life of Sydney O’Neill detailed below.

Early Life

Sydney O’Neill was born on the 25th January 1895 in Richmond, Victoria, the son of Arthur Henry O’Neill and Maud Evelyn Williams. The family moved to Adelaide before 1908. Arthur was a clerk and the family lived at 44 Palmerston Road, North Unley, SA.

Schooling

Sydney attended Adelaide High School where in December 1908 he won an exhibition and in 1909 he passed his Primary Examinations followed by Senior Examinations in 1910. He was on the general honours list and won a bursary to attend Adelaide University.

While at AHS, Sydney played football and represented the school in both 1910 and 1911. The first picture below is of the Football and Rifle teams who travelled to Victoria to play the Melbourne Continuation School in matches in Michaelmas Holidays in 1910.

Adelaide University

Sydney commenced studying medicine at Adelaide University in 1912 and graduated MB BS in July 1917.

University Sport

Sydney played football for the Adelaide University B Grade in the Adelaide Students’ Association competition in the 1913, 1914 and 1915 seasons.

World War I

Sydney was appointed a Temporary Surgeon in the Royal Australian Navy on the 6th August 1917 and served aboard the ‘Cerberus’ from the 6th August to the 14th December 1917 and on the ‘Encounter’ from the 15th December 1917 to the 1st December 1919 when he was demobilised.

Career

After demobilisation, Sydney returned to civilian medicine and travelled to the UK where in December 1922 he was awarded his Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons.

On the 7th of February 1924, Sydney married Grace Mary Smith, the daughter of Mrs. Teresa and the late Mr. Charles Smith, of Guildford, W.A.

After their marriage they returned to Sydney, NSW where Sydney had his practice.

By 1925 the couple had moved to Perth and Sydney was carrying on his practice at 1290 Hay Street in the city.

Sydney was unlucky enough to be present at a Charity Ball at Government House in August 1925 when a man was shot nearby by a young woman known to him.

In September 1925, he also gave evidence in the well-publicised trial of Yeong Yen, a Chinese shopkeeper, accused of murdering his young wife, Ruby by suspected strychnine poisoning.

In 1927, Sydney was consulting at Leith House, 220 St George’s Terrace in addition to his Hay St, West Perth practice.

Twins John and Jill were born at home on the 16th of July 1927. Sydney was well known for driving sports model Buick cars and in February 1929 he purchased a Silver Anniversary Model Buick Roadster.

In 1936 the family moved to Francis Street, Scarborough and in December 1942 Sydney was fined £1 for showing lights visible at sea.

In 1943, Sydney was involved in a court case to regain possession of his house at 13 Carr Street, Coogee. The house had been rented out and was being used as a rest home and Sydney wanted it as a home for his wife and two children.

It is unclear if Sydney moved to the City of Sydney in 1944 as articles in Perth newspapers indicate he was still practicing at St George’s Terrace, Perth in 1945. It is likely that his wife and the twins moved to Sydney where John commenced studying to become a doctor. Jill repeated her Leaving year at School before commencing to study dentistry. Sydney probably remained in Perth.

In July 1947 Sydney registered a Buick sedan, giving St George’s Terrace, Perth as his address.

In 1948, in partnership with Dr T. Early of Perth, Sydney leased the horse, Filipino, from a Mr Stan O’Neill (no relation).

Filipino was successful, winning five races and placing in seven others out of 14 starts in Sydney and Melbourne. In March 1949 Filipino won the £5,000 Alister Clark Stakes, worth £3250 and a £100 trophy to the winner at Moonie Valley, Melbourne (worth $200,000 today).

Unfortunately, following Filipino’s successes, the doctors were unable to extend their lease beyond May 1949. The owner Stan O’Neill then raced Filipino for another year before sending the 8-year-old stallion into stud.

In July 1948, John and Jill celebrated their 21st birthdays and in August John passed his final medical examinations.

The 1949 Electoral Rolls give Sydney and Grace’s addresses as Francis Street, Scarborough and in 1954 they were listed at 33 Filburn Street, Scarborough.

In January 1956, Dr John O’Neill, 28 of Lang Road, Centennial Park, the recently appointed surgical registrar at St Vincent’s Hospital disappeared. He was found 10 days later at Katoomba suffering from loss of memory. He could not explain his loss of memory but did not believe it was the result of studying too hard.

By 1958, Sydney and Grace were both living at 16 Lang Road, Centennial Park, Sydney, as were John Patrick (medical practitioner) and Jill Patricia (dentist).

Death

Sydney passed away on the 14th November 1961 aged 66 years and is buried at Rookwood Cemetery, Sydney.

Author EE (Beth) Filmer

For the complete profile including photographs, newspaper articles, documents and sources prepared for the AUFC/AUCC WWI Memorial Project (in the period 2015-2019) please see the document attached.