Edward Harold O'NEILL

O'NEILL, Edward Harold

Service Number: 2116
Enlisted: 12 October 1915
Last Rank: Private
Last Unit: 18th Infantry Battalion
Born: Goulburn New South Wales, Australia, December 1890
Home Town: Casino, Richmond Valley, New South Wales
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Not yet discovered
Died: Wounds, Beaufort War Hospital, Bristol, England, 18 June 1918
Cemetery: Bristol (Arnos Vale) Cemetery, Gloucestershire, England
Row C, Grave No. 2
Memorials: Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour
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World War 1 Service

12 Oct 1915: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2116, 1st Light Horse Regiment
15 Jan 1916: Involvement Private, 2116, 1st Light Horse Regiment, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '1' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: RMS Osterley embarkation_ship_number: '' public_note: ''
15 Jan 1916: Embarked Private, 2116, 1st Light Horse Regiment, RMS Osterley, Sydney
19 Mar 1916: Promoted AIF WW1, Driver, 2nd Divisional Ammunition Column
11 May 1916: Transferred AIF WW1, Gunner, 2nd Divisional Ammunition Column
4 Sep 1916: Promoted AIF WW1, Gunner, 2nd Divisional Ammunition Column
3 Nov 1916: Transferred AIF WW1, Gunner, 22nd Field Artillery (Howitzer) Brigade
27 Jan 1917: Transferred AIF WW1, Gunner, 5th Field Artillery Brigade
14 May 1917: Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 18th Infantry Battalion
16 May 1918: Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 2116, 18th Infantry Battalion, GSW to Hip, severe fracture of Ilium and Haemorrhage
18 Jun 1918: Involvement Private, 2116, 18th Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 2116 awm_unit: 18 Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1918-06-18

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Biography contributed by Evan Evans

The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland 

Died on this date – 18th June…… Edward Harold O’Neill was born at Goulburn, NSW around 1891.

He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 12th October, 1915 as a 23 year old, single, Labourer from Casino, Richmond River, NSW.

Private Edward Harold O’Neill, Service number 2116, embarked from Sydney, NSW on RMS Osterley on 15th January, 1916 with the 1st Light Horse Brigade, 1st Light Horse Regiment, 14th Reinforcements. He was written up on 3 occasions for being absent from Parade (twice) & being ashore without permission.
He was taken on strength of 1st Light Horse Regiment at Heliopolis on 1st March, 1916.

On 10th March, 1916 Private O’Neill was transferred to 2nd D.A.C. (Divisional Artillery Column) as Gunner at Zeitoun. He was appointed Acting Driver on 19th March, 1916 & posted to No. 1 Section.

Acting Driver O’Neill embarked from Alexandria on 20th March, 1916 on H.T. Magdelene & proceeded to join B.E.F. (British Expeditionary Force). He disembarked at Marseilles, France on 27th March, 1916.
He was attached to 20th A.S.C. (Army Service Corps) in France on 15th April, 1916 & rejoined his Unit on 25th April, 1916.

On 20th May, 1916 he was transferred to 2nd Base Details at Calais, France then transferred on 5th July, 1916 to 2nd A.D.B.D. (Australian Divisional Base Depot) at Etaples, France. He rejoined 2nd D.A.C. in France on 4th September, 1916.

Acting Driver O’Neill was transferred to 22nd F.A.B. (Field Artillery Brigade) in the Field on 3rd November, 1916. He was taken on strength of 22nd F.A.B. as Gunner & posted to 20th Battery on the same day.

On 27th January, 1917 Gunner O’Neill was transferred to 5th F.A. Bde (Field Artillery Brigade), 13th Battery. He was taken on strength of 13th Battery in France on 28th January, 1917.

He reported sick on 18th March, 1917 & was admitted to 7th Australian Field Ambulance with a S.T.A. (Septic traumatic abrasion) left Heel then transferred the same day to 2nd D.R.S. (Divisional Rest Station). He was discharged to duty on 3rd April, 1917 & rejoined his Unit from Hospital on 9th April, 1917.

Gunner O’Neill was transferred to 18th Battalion as Private on 14th May, 1917.

On 5th July, 1917 he reported sick & was admitted to 7th Australian Field Ambulance – P.U.O. (pyrexia (fever) of unknown origin). He rejoined his Battalion on 14th July, 1917.

He reported sick on 2nd September, 1917 & was admitted to 5th Australian Field Ambulance with Balanitis then transferred to 10th Stationary Hospital at St. Omer, France. Private O’Neill was transferred on 12th September, 1917 & admitted to 39th General Hospital at Havre, France with V.D. He was discharged to Base on 30th October, 1917. Total period VD – 59 days. Private O’Neill was marched in to 2nd A.D.B.D. (Australian Divisional Base Depot) at Havre, France on 30th October, 1917. He was marched out to his Unit on 4th November, 1917 & rejoined 18th Battalion in the Field on 5th November, 1917.

Private Edward Harold O’Neill was wounded in action in France on 16th May, 1918. He was admitted to 5th Australian Field Ambulance on 16th May, 1918 with GSW (gunshot wound/s) to Buttock & arm. Private O’Neill was transferred & admitted to 20th Casualty Clearing Station on 16th May, 1918 then transferred to Ambulance Train 32. He was admitted to 1st U.S.A. General Hospital at Etretat, France on 18th May, 1918. Private O’Neill embarked for England on Hospital Ship Gloucester Castle on 16th June, 1918.

On 17th June, 1918 Private O’Neill was admitted to Beaufort War Hospital, Bristol, England with shrapnel wounds to Buttock & right arm. He was reported as dangerously ill.

Private Edward Harold O’Neill died at 6.30 pm on 18th June, 1918 at Beaufort War Hospital, Bristol, England from wounds received in action – G.S.W. (gunshot wound/s) Hip, severe fracture of Ilium, Haemorrhage & shock.

He was buried in Arnos Vale Roman Catholic Cemetery, Bristol, England where 6 other WW1 Australian War Graves are located.

(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/arnos-vale-rc.html

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