1st Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers (British Army)
Died:
30/05/1915 (Killed in Action)
Age:
38
Summary
Peter O’Neill was born at Loup, County Londonderry. He lived with his wife, Esther, at Ballygillen, Ballinderry Bridge, Coagh. Peter and Esther had a son, Joseph James O'Neill, who was born about 1911. He enlisted in Cookstown with 1st Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers and was posted to Gallipoli. He was killed in action, on 30th May 1915, while his battalion was in Brigade reserve at White House, Gallipoli.
Further Information
Peter O’Neill was the eldest son of Joseph and Lizzie O’Neill. Joseph O’Neill married Elizabeth Hunter on 23rd January 1876 in the district of Magherafelt.
Peter O’Neill born was born about 1890 in the Moneymore / Coagh area. He was one of at least twelve children.
Family: Joseph O’Neill, Lizzie O'Neill, Mary Jane O’Neill (born 30th July 1878), Thomas O’Neill (born 13th September 1880), Francis (Frank) O’Neill (born 15th January 1883), Francis (Frank) O’Neill (born 20th June 1884), Elizabeth O’Neill (born 23rd December 1886), Susan O’Neill (born 28th July 1889 in Workhouse), Peter O’Neill (born about 1890), Felix O’Neill (born 19th December 1891), Patrick O’Neill (born 10th July 1894), Joseph O’Neill (born 16th March 1895), Alice Trea O’Neill (born 16th August 1896), Margaret Jane O’Neill (born a 30th July 1898).
The 1901 census does not list Peter as living with the family at house 9 in Ballygillen More. Salterstown, County Londonderry. His father was a labourer.
Peter O’Neill married Esther McGinty on 16th June 1908. They had at least one child. John Joseph O Neill was born on 13th May 1910 in the Magherafelt area.
The 1911 census lists Peter as age 34, living with his family at house 18 in Ballygillen More, Salterstown, County Londonderry. He was a farm labourer.
Peter O’Neill enlisted in Cookstown. He was recorded as living in Moneymore at the time.
1915
Private Peter O’Neill was serving with the 1st Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers when he was killed in action on Sunday 30th May 1915, while his battalion was in Brigade Reserve at White House, Gallipoli.
From the Belfast Newsletter dated 18th August 1915:
Mrs O’Neill of Ballygillen, near Coagh, has received an intimation that her husband, Private Peter O’Neill, of the 1st Inniskillings, was killed at the Dardanelles on 30th May. He leaves a widow and two children. His brother, Mark O’Neill, has also been killed in the Western campaign. They were the sons of Mr Joseph O’Neill, Roosky, Coagh.
(It is believed the brother referred to is Francis, who had died just a few months earlier)
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 21st August 1915:
O’NEILL – Private Peter, 12124, 1st Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, killed in action at the Dardanelles on 30th May; formerly of Ballygillan, Ballinderry Bridge. ‘O, Mother of Sorrows, Pray for him.’
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 21st August 1915: Private Peter O’Neill, Ballygillen
Mrs O’Neill, Ballygillen, near Coagh, has just received intimation from the War Office that her husband, Private Peter O’Neill, of the 1st Inniskillings, was killed at the Dardanelles on 30th May. Private O’Neill had been a reservist, and served during the Boer War, but his time had expired before the present war broke out. He, however, patriotically volunteered for service again and went to the Dardanelles with his regiment. He leaves a widow and two children, a boy of five and a girl of two and a half years. His brother, Frank O’Neill, has also been killed in the western campaign. They are sons of Mr Joseph O’Neill, Ruskey, Coagh.
1916
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated Saturday 29th January 1916:
Private James Devlin, at present a prisoner of war in Limburg, Germany, writes that he is quite well and received the parcels sent to him all right. His brother, John, also of the Inniskillings, has returned to his home at Ballinahone, Coagh, after having completed his term. Both brothers fought sided by side in some desperate engagements in the early days of the war and were both in the great struggle for Mons, when James was taken prisoner by the Germans. John afterwards took part in the battles of Messines, La Bassee, Pluggst Wood, etc, but he says the biggest fight was at Richburg, where he was wounded on 16th May in both hands very badly, one hand being almost blown off. He was two months in hospital in Rouen, from whence he was removed to Cardiff, and has now returned home. He still looks in the pink of condition after what he has come through. James’ brother-in-law, Private Peter O’Neill, who enlisted at the outbreak of war and fought with James at Mons, was afterwards shot at the Dardanelles, while his brother Joe has just been killed in action in France, making the third of the O’Neill family who has laid down his life for his country.
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated Saturday 10th June 1916:
O’NEILL – In loving remembrance of my dear husband, Private Peter O’Neill, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, who was killed in action at the Dardanelles on 30th May 1915
"Queen of the Most Holy Rosary pray for him.
Departed, yes, but not forever,
We shall meet him by and by,
Where no partings e’er shall sever,
Where no tear shall dim the eye.
His pain is past, his joys are full,
His heart can ask no more,
Save the dear ones he left at home,
May meet him on that shore"
Inserted by his wife Mrs Esther O’Neill, Ballygillen, Ballinderry Bridge.
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated Saturday 10th June 1916: Tamlaght Church
On Sunday 28th May 1916, a memorial service was held in the above Church in honour of the heroic men who recently lost their lives on the field of battle. Hymns suitable to the occasion were used, as also additional authorised prayers. Before sermon, the rector, (Rev. J B Cooper, B.A.) read the names of the fallen:- Peter O’Neill, Joseph O’Neill, Frank O’Neill, Robert Burgess, Peter Little, John McMullen, Robert Sands. The text chosen was from Rev. 21-1, and parts of verses 4 and 5. Before closing, the preacher alluded to the many whose careers had been abruptly closed; of true self-sacrifice in this life has its reward. A portion of one of the Collects from the Burial Office was read after the sermon.
Private P O’Neill has no known grave and is commemorated on Memorial C-157 at Twelve Tree Copse Cemetery, Turkey.
Two brothers of Peter also died in the war. Private Francis O’Neill was killed in action two months before on the 29th March 1915 while serving with the 2nd Inniskillings in trenches at Festubert. Corporal Joseph O’Neill was killed in action in Salonika six months later on 6th December 1915.
