Friday 14 September 2018

A ONeill QX27819

The following entry is from They Answered The Call.  Click here for the contents page.

Arthur O’NEILL


Service number: QX27819.  Age: 27 years 10 months.  Enlisted: 24 Feb 1942.
Occupation: Fisherman.  Next of kin: (mother) Mrs Mary O’Neill.
Address on enlistment:  Bribie Island.

26 Nov 1944, Jacquinot Bay, New Britain. The Dutch troopship 
Van Heutz at anchor after bringing troops into the area.[1]

Service Summary:
23 Aug 19442: Embarked on US 16 HT P3 for Middle East.

2 Jan 1943: 2/15 Infantry Battalion.

27 Feb 1943: Unit returned from Middle East to Sydney for training in Queensland.

28 Jul 1943: Embarked on Van Heutz for Milne Bay where he was wounded.

6 Jul 1945: Returned to Australia.

20 Jun 1946: Discharged.

Life Summary:
Arthur O’Neill (1914-1987) was born 6 May 1914 in Brisbane, the only son of William O’Neill (1860-1938) and Mary Jane Hazeldine (1871-1942).

When he enlisted he was carrying his shoes because, as he explained to a journalist, working as a fisherman on Bribie Island for 11 years he had not worn shoes.[2]

After his service, Arthur O’Neill returned to fishing and lived at Toorbul Point until the early 1960s when he moved to Woorim. He had been associated with Bribie Island for over 50 years when he died 18 Apr 1987, aged 73.


[1] Courtesy of the Australian War Memorial 0771990 https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C77542
[2] Ready to try army boots. The Sun (Sydney) Sat 28 Feb 1942 p. 2 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article231766410

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