James Gordon O'NEILL
Year of Birth: 1893
Place of Birth: Cooktown, Queensland
Date of Enlistment: 27 January 1915
Date and Place of Embarkation: 16 April 1915, Brisbane, Queensland
Ship: HMAT Kyarra A55
Rank: Second Lieutenant
Unit(s): 9th Infantry Battalion, 47th Battalion, 48th Battalion
Regimental Number: 1994
Died: 8 August 1918
James Gordon O’Neill was born 21 August 1893 to James Henry O’Neill and Edith Williams. His father James had a previous marriage and had 3 children William (Willie) born 22 January 1886 in Cooktown, Anne Jane 28 October 1887, Lizzie Florence 22 June 1889. When his father’s first wife Elizabeth (Lizzie) Angelina died in 1890, he married Edith Williams on the 23 February 1892. In 1915 James Gordon was farming at Highleigh, Gordonvale. James Gordon’s step brother William enlisted on the 20 September 1915 and was killed in action on the 21 August 1916.
His father, James Henry died 11 November 1944 and his mother, Edith Williams died 1941.
At the time of his enlistment James Gordon was living in Cairns, he gave his age as 21 years 5 months and his occupation as a Farmer. His next of kin was his father James O’Neill of Gordonvale. His height was 5 feet 4 ½ inches, he weighed 126 pounds, with fair complexion, brown eyes and light brown hair. His religion was Church of England.
James Gordon O’Neill was killed in action on the 8 August 1918 and was buried at Heath Cemetery, Harbonnieres, France.
Online Resources
National Archives of Australia
Photograph of the HMAT Kyarra: PB0516, Australian War Memorial
NAA: B2455, O’Neill, James Gordon, National Archives of Australia.
Queensland Registrar of Births Deaths & Marriages
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