Thomas O'Neill

Rank:	Private
Street:	51 Pitt Street
Townland:
Town/Village:	Widnes, Lancashire
Civil Parish:
Catholic Parish:
Country:
Alternative Address:	Co. Longford
Census 1901:
Census 1911:
Regiment/Unit:	Leinster Regiment, 2nd Battalion; [6th Battalion]
Regiment Number:	216
Date of Death:	29-03-1916
Cause:	Killed in action, Wulverghem Belgium
Memorial:	Berks Cemetery Extension, Comines-Warneton, Hainaut, Belgium
Information:	Thomas was born likely on the 30 December 1884 in Cloonaugh, Drumlish, Co. Longford, but later moved to the north of England with his family. Pte O'Neill enlisted in Warrington, Lancashire and engaged in the war the 5 August 1915; he initially served at Gallipoli before being deployed to Belgium. Prior to the 27th his battalion was stationed at an area in Belgium known as Red Lodge, where they assisted the Royal Engineers in stengthening the trenches. On the 29th, four companies of the 2ns Leinsters relieved the 7th Northhamptonshire Regiment; here Pte O'Neill and Pte Malone (No.350) were killed by a shell 30 minutes after relieving the Northants; 24 men from the 2nd Leinsters rank-and-file, and two officers, were killed during March 1916. After his death, Thomas's uncle Patrick is noted as being his sole legate. Pte O'Neill was initially buried in the Ploegsteert area, in the Rosenberg Chateau Military Cemetery. In the Dependent's Pension index record, his dependant is listed as Mrs Bridget O'Neill of 51 Pitt St, Widnes; her relationship is listed as 'aunt & fostermother'. In the Register of Soliders' Effects, his 'Uncle, sole legate' is given as Patrick O'Neill.
Parents Names:
Notes:	Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) states that his father's name was Thomas and his mother was Bridget, however, we know that the Bridget O'Neill at the address given is described as his foster-mother and aunt, so this may be an inaccuracy on behalf of the CWGC. If these details are accurate, however, it is possible that this could be a Civil Record of Thomas's birth: https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1885/02656/1979364.pdf
Links:	Commonwealth War Graves Commission entry; Dependent's Pension index (Fold 3, paid subscription site)