| Joseph O’Neill was the youngest son of Joseph and Lizzie O’Neill. Joseph O’Neill married Elizabeth Hunter on 23rd January 1876 in the district of Magherafelt.
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| Joseph O’Neill born was born on 16th March 1895 in the Moneymore area. He was one of at least twelve children.
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| 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).
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| The 1901 census does not list Joseph as living with the family at house 9 in Ballygillen More. Salterstown, County Londonderry. His father was a labourer.
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| The 1911 census does not list Joseph as living with the family at house 8 in Ballynewy, Springhill, Moneymore. His father had re-married.
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| Joseph was living and working in Glasgow at the outbreak of war when he enlisted with the Connaught Rangers.
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| Corporal Joseph O’Neill was serving with the 5th Battalion of the Connaught Rangers when he was killed in action in Salonika on Monday 6th December 1915.
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| From the Mid Ulster Mail dated Saturday 29th January 1916:
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| 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.
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| From the Mid Ulster Mail dated Saturday 5th February 1916: Private Joseph O’Neill
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| Private Joseph O’Neill, to whom we made reference to last week, as having been killed in action is one of three brothers who have laid down their lives for their country.
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| From the Mid Ulster Mail dated Saturday 10th June 1916: Tamlaght Church
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| 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.
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| Corporal O’Neill has no known grave and is commemorated on Doiran Memorial in Greece.
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| Joseph had two other brothers who died in the war. Private Francis O’Neill was killed in action on the 29th March 1915 while serving with the 2nd Inniskillings in trenches at Festubert. Private Peter O’Neill was killed in action on 30th May 1915, while his battalion was in Brigade reserve at White House, Gallipoli.
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| The CWGC records Joseph as the son of Joseph and Lizzie O'Neil, of Rouskey, Coagh, Moneymore, County Derry. He is also recorded as being born at Moneymore.
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