John Terrence O'Neil

Personal Information
Date of Birth	not known
Place of Birth	Jarrahdale, Western Australia
Death	10 Jul 1917
Place of Death	Messines, Belgium
Age at Enlistment	18 years, 6 months
Description	5'7" (1.70m) tall; weight 141 lbs (64kg); fresh complexion, grey eyes, dark brown hair.
Occupation	mill hand
Religion	Roman Catholic
Address	Jarrahdale, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Father Mr Joseph O'Neill
Military Information
Reg Number	256
Date of Enlistment	18 Jan 1916
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	44th Battalion, B Company / 11th brigade, 3rd Division
Date of Embarkation	6 Jun 1916 - 21 Jul 1916
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A29 Suevic
Fate	Killed in Action 10 Jul 1917 Messines, Belgium
Monument	Jarrahdale
Medals	British War Medal Victory Medal

War Service

From 19 - 29 Aug 1916 John was hospitalised with tonsillitis in the Fargo Hospital. Before going overseas, he was AWOL from midnight 30 Oct 1916 until 6:00am 1 Nov 1916. Awarded 2 days Field Punishment No 2., and forfeited 4 days pay.

On 25 Nov 1916 he travelled overseas to France with the 44th Battalion and moved into reserve area at Steenwerck. From 22 Apr until 4 May 1917 he attended a 3rd Division School (subject not include in records).

Killed in Action on 10 Jul 1917. The Battalion War Diary reports no action as such for that day as they were in support trenches near Messines. However, it mentions that the enemy shelled Steignast Farm and the support line trenches, and the supports again that night so it is fair to assume that John's death was caused by the enemy artillery.

While records include an entry "Buried 200 yards north of the cross roads, 2,500 ENE of Messines and 2,000 NW of Warneton" his body was unable to be found later, and thus he is listed on the Menin Gate Memorial in Ypres.

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  Menin Gate Memorial - photo 2015 Linton Reynolds

Notes

Mother awarded pension of 40/- per fortnight from 21 Sep 1917.