WW1 Casualty: Private 60509 Ernest O'Neill - Private 60509 Ernest O'Neill
| Unit/Regiment |
10th Bn., Cheshire Regiment |
| Date of Death |
01/12/1918 |
Age at Death |
20 |
Burial/Memorial
& Reference |
Berlin South Western Cemetery
II E 6 |
| CWGC Family Details (if shown) |
Son of Henry and Eliza O'Neill, of 38, Hulton Avenue, Whiston, Prescot, Lancs.
|
| Census Details |
1911 Census -
12 year old Ernest was one of 10 children to Henry and Eliza O'Neill. The family lived at 34, Cumber Lane, Whiston |
| SDGW - Where Born |
Whiston |
| Enlisted |
Warrington |
| Resided |
Whiston |
| How Died |
Died |
Theatre of War |
France & Flanders |
| Research Ref. No. |
P337 |
Service DetailsI have been unable to locate any specific details of Ernest's military service.
Records held by the International Committee of the Red Cross show that he was born on 12th July 1895 in Prescot. He was captured on 11th April 1918 at Messines.
The Battalion War Diary records them as being n the Catacombs at Ploegsteert in early April 1918, directly in the line of the German advance. The enemy shelled the Cheshires lines for most of the day before attacking at 6:30 p.m. After heavy fighting, the defenders withdrew in the direction of Neuve Eglise, where a composite battalion was formed from the remainder of the three Battalions of the 7th Infantry Brigade.
It would appear that Ernest was captured in this period of fighting
Ernest was held at Friedrichsfeld Prisoner of War Camp - this was generally considered to be a "good" camp.
Extracts from Red cross POW records for Ernest
Although the armistice had been signed in November 1918, many prisoners were still in poor states of health and succumbed to either wounds or illness, and it would appear that Ernest was one such man.
Ernest was entitled to the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Ernest's entry in the Register of Soldiers Effects
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