1st Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers (British Army)
Date Of Birth:
21/01/1895
Died:
11/04/1917 (Killed in Action)
Age:
27
Summary
William John O'Neill was the eldest son of John and Ellen O誰eill. He was born on 21st January 1895 in Moyagall, Gulladuff, Knockloughrim. He was one of seven children. They were a farming family and lived in Dreenan, Knockloughrim. He enlisted under the names of James O誰eill. Private John James O誰eill was serving with the 1st Battalion of the Royal Irish Fusiliers when he was killed in action in France on Wednesday 11th April 1917.
Further Information
John O'Neill was the eldest son of John and Ellen O誰eill. John O誰eill and Ellen Scullion were married on 8th October 1885 in the district of Magherafelt.
William John O'Neill was born on 21st January 1895 in Moyagall, Gulladuff, Knockloughrim. He was one of seven children.
The 1901 census lists William John as age 5 living with the family at house 3 in Dreenan, Gulladuff, County Londonderry. They were a farming family and lived with his father痴 parents.
Dreenan is a townland bordering on the townland of Moyagall.
Family: John James O'Neill, Ellen O'Neill, Annie O'Neill (born 10th January 1887), Bridget Jane O'Neill (born 19th October 1888), Mary O'Neill (born 12th June 1891), Eliza Lizzie O'Neill (born 20th July 1893), William John O'Neill (born 21st January 1895), Andrew O'Neill (born 2nd March 1897, died 17th March 1897), Felix O'Neill (born 10th July 1899), Andrew James O'Neill 8 (born 11th July 1903)
The 1911 census lists William John as age 16 living with the family at house 53 in Dreenan, Gulladuff. John was working on the family farm.
He enlisted under the names of James O誰eill.
Private John James O誰eill was serving with the 1st Battalion of the Royal Irish Fusiliers when he was killed in action in France on Wednesday 11th April 1917.
In his will he left all to his father, James O誰eill who was living at Dreenan, Moyagall, Knockloughrim.
Last Will and Testament of Private O誰eill
In the event of my death, I give all my property and effects to my father James O誰eill, Dreenan, Moyagall, Knockloughrim, County Derry, Ireland. Private O誰eill, 20882, Royal Irish Fusiliers.
Private John James O誰eill is buried in Fampoux British Cemetery, six kilometres east of Arras in the department of the Pas-de-Calais.
The CWGC record Private James O誰eill as the son of James and Ellen O'Neill of Dreenan, Knockloughrim, Co. Londonderry. In actuality, Private John O誰eill was the son of John James and Ellen O'Neill of Dreenan, Knockloughrim, Co. Londonderry
