1st Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers (British Army)
Date Of Birth:
24/02/1894
Died:
01/07/1916 (Killed in Action)
Age:
22
Summary
Charles O誰eill was the son of John and Margret O'Neill. He was born on 24th February 1894 in Dungannon. The family lived at Anne Street, Dungannon. The O誰eill family were tinsmiths. Charles enlisted in Omagh. In July 1915, Private Charles O誰eill returned home to Anne Street, Dungannon suffering from wounds in his back and legs received in Flanders in May. He had been at the Front continuously from October 1914. Private Charles O誰eill later returned to the front with the 1st Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. He was killed in action on the first day of the Somme on 1st July 1916 aged 22.
Further Information
Charles O'Neill was the son of John and Margaret O'Neill. John O誰eill and Margaret Rogers were married on 5th July 1886 in the district of Dungannon.
Charles O'Neill was born on 24th February 1894 in Dungannon. He was one of nine children, eight surviving. All the children were born in Dungannon with the exception of the eldest, Francis, who was born in Belfast.
Family: John O'Neill, Margret O'Neill, Francis O'Neill (born 16th January 1887, Belfast), Mary O'Neill (born 13th September 1888), Patrick O'Neill (born 14th February 1890, died 24th February 1890), Annie O'Neill (born 13th April 1891), Charles O'Neill (born 24th February 1894), Margaret O'Neill (born 19th March 1896), Elizabeth O'Neill (born 17th February 1898), John O'Neill (born 2nd May 1900), Patrick Joseph O'Neill (born 15th November 1902).
The 1901 census shows Charles as 7 years old. The family was living at Anne Street, Dungannon. John O'Neill was a tinsmith.
The 1911 census records Charlie O'Neill as 17 years old. He was now working as a tinsmith. The family still lived in Anne Street.
Charles enlisted in Omagh.
1915
Private O'Neill arrived in France with the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers on 15th April 1915.
From the Tyrone Courier dated 3rd June 1915:
Corporal John Johnston, 2nd Battalion Inniskilling Fusiliers, wrote home to Dungannon last week stating that Private Frizell (his chum when he enlisted) has been killed, and Private O誰eill, Ann Street, Dungannon, is missing, and Private Cunningham killed. It has since been ascertained however, that O誰eill is in hospital at Ramsgate, and that Cunningham is also in hospital with a wounded arm.
In July 1915, Private Charles O'Neill returned home to Anne Street, Dungannon suffering from wounds in his back and legs received in Flanders in May. He had been at the Front continuously from October 1914.
From the Tyrone Courier dated 22 July 1915:
Private Charles O'Neill, 2nd Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, has returned home to Anne Street, Dungannon, suffering from wounds in his back and legs received in Flanders in May. He had been at the Front continuously from the previous October
1916
Private Charles O'Neill later returned to the front with the 1st Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers.
Private Charles O'Neill was killed in action on the first day of Battle of the Somme on Saturday 1st July 1916.
From the Tyrone Courier dated 27 July 1916:
Mr John O'Neill, tinsmith, Ann Street, Dungannon, received intimation on Friday that his son, Private Charles O'Neill, Inniskilling Fusiliers, had been killed in action
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated Saturday 29th July 1916: Private Charles O'Neill
Mr John O'Neill, Ann Street, Dungannon, received official intimation on Friday that Private Charles O'Neill, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, one of his two soldier sons, has been killed in action. He had been of a very cheery disposition, and was the life and soul of the trenches during last winter. He was an excellent singer, and had enlivened many a dreary and trying hour.
Memorials
Private C O'Neill has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.
Private Charles O'Neill is commemorated locally on Dungannon War Memorial.
There is another Private Charles O誰eill who also served with the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers (Service No 20325). He came from the Loop/Moneymore area and was killed in action in March 1918.
