Info on my great grandfather - O'Neil

[sammy]

Hi my name is sam and im looking for any info on my great grandfather,im afraid i dont know alot about him,all i do know is that his surname was o'neil and was in the the welch fusiliers.My grandmother told us he died in germany saving a small child from a mine between 1944-1946,if anyone can help that would be great.

[ap1]

Hi Sam,

Welcome to the Forum. This is a difficult one

Right then, I've checked RWF Roll of Honour for WW2 1939-1945. No mention of O'Neil, so he wasn't killed serving with the regiment during that period.

I've had a look at Regimental Records for the year 1946. No mention in there either, although its fair to say, thats not unusual, as the records tend to look at the bigger picture.

I had a look at the Commonwealth Graves Site, and found an interesting possibility:

http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_...sualty=2061705

Name: O'NEILL, WILLIAM GEORGE
Initials: W G
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Serjeant
Regiment/Service: Welch Regiment
Unit Text: 1/5th Bn.
Age: 25
Date of Death: 02/07/1944
Service No: 3055022
Additional information: Son of Thomas and Johanna O'Neill, of Treharris, Glamorgan.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: XIII. D. 9.
Cemetery: ST. MANVIEU WAR CEMETERY, CHEUX

Is it possible that your Grandmother got the Welch Regiment mixed up with The Royal Welch Fusiliers? Does your family have any links with Treharris? The cemetery is located in France.

I do have a couple of other sources that I can check with, but would prefer it if you can check on the above information first. Also, the more detail you can provide, no matter how small, the better the chance of pointing you in the right direction.

Also have you applied for your grandmothers birth certificate? His full name should be on it, I may be able to assist with that.

[sammy]

Thank you for your help,ive just asked my mother if she knows anymore and she said we have no connection to the treharris that she knows of.We do know that my great grandfather married sarah souter and had 5 childern.
He served in the welch fusiliers in WW2 and was based in wrexham,my grandmother was called margaret o'neil born in wales on dec 26th 1936,have never applied for her birth certificate.

[ap1]

Good News Sam, Game on

Your Great grandfathers name was spelt "O'NEILL"

Your Great Grandmothers name was spelt "SUTER"

The birth certificate details:

Margaret E O'NEILL

Place of Registration - WREXHAM
Volume 11b
Page 300
4th Quarter 1936

The certificate can be ordered online at https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/c...ates/Login.asp

It costs about £7 and will fully name the parents. Order that, and then onto the next stage.

Incidentally do you know roughly what year the eldest child was born?

[sammy]

Thats great news,thank you so much we will have to order that.The eldest child was a female and born somewhere between 1933-1935,unfortunatly she died when she was still a baby.

[ap1]

There's more!!!!!!

Your Great Grandfathers name was Michael J O'Neill

He married Sarah in 1935:

4th Quarter 1935
District - Wrexham
Volume 11b
Page 662

[sammy]

i know that he was married sarah suter,my great uncle is called michael so we did think maybe his name was that

[sammy]

I dont know if it helps but we do know he got a bravery medal for saving the young child.

[ap1]

I dont know if it helps but we do know he got a bravery medal for saving the young child.

Do you know what medal he received? And what other detail do you know about the incident. It makes searching a lot easier with the full picture.

[sammy]

sorry dont know anymore about that,thats all i was ever told.