| Regimental number | 140 |
| Place of birth | Albany, Western Australia |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Occupation | Labourer |
| Address | Mount Barker, Western Australia |
| Marital status | Single |
| Age at embarkation | 31 |
| Height | 5' 10.5" |
| Weight | 126 lbs |
| Next of kin | Mother, Mrs E O'Neill, Mount Barker, Western Australia |
| Previous military service | Served in the Civil Service Corps, Western Australian Infantry Regiment, Citizen Military Forces. |
| Enlistment date | |
| Place of enlistment | Blackboy Hill, Western Australia |
| Rank on enlistment | Private |
| Unit name | 28th Battalion, A Company |
| AWM Embarkation Roll number | 23/45/1 |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Fremantle, Western Australia, |
| 30 Officers and 982 Other Ranks embarked at Fremantle on HMAT A11 'Ascanius' on 29 June 1915; 12 others embarked at Fremantle on HMAT A36 'Thirty-Six' on 12 July 1916. From Embarkation Records it is not possible to distinguish the latter 12. | |
| Rank from Nominal Roll | Private |
| Unit from Nominal Roll | 28th Battalion |
| Fate | Died of wounds whilst a Prisoner of War |
| Miscellaneous details (Nominal Roll) | Listed on Nominal Roll as Clarence O'NEILL. Fate incorrectly recorded on NR as killed in action. |
| Age at death from cemetery records | 33 |
| Place of burial | Cologne Southern Cemetery (Plot XVII, Row B, Grave No. 23), Germany |
| Panel number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial | 114 |
| Miscellaneous information from cemetery records | Parents: Thomas and Elizabeth O'NEILL, Mount Barker, Western Australia |
| Other details |
War service: Egypt, Gallipoli, Western Front Embarked Fremantle, 29 June 1915. Embarked Alexandria to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, Gallipoli, 4 September 1915. Admitted to 13th Casualty Clearing Station, 12 November 1915 (catarrhal jaundice); transferred to HS 'Galeka', 16 November 1915; to Malta, 24 November 1915, and admitted to St Paul's Hospital; transferred to Ghain Tuffieha, 10 January 1916; to HS 'Valdivia', 16 January 1916; disembarked Alexandria, 21 January 1916, and admitted to 3rd Auxiliary Hospital, Heliopolis; transferred to Convalescent Depot, Helouan, 31 January 1916 (cardiac). Found guilty, 7 February 1916 of (1) drunkenness; (2) disobeying an order given by an NCO; (3) resisting arrest: awarded 96 hours' detention. Admitted to Abbassia Detention Barracks, 8 February 1916 (96 hours' imprisonment with hard labour); rejoined 28th Bn for duty, Moascar, 6 March 1916. Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 16 March 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 21 March 1916. Found guilty, 15 July 1916, of drunkenness, 10 July 1916: awarded 21 days' Field Punishment No 2. Reported killed in action, 29 July 1916. Subsequently reported died of wounds (lung wound)as a prisoner of war, Munster, Germany. Statement, Red Cross File No 2050708M, 2991 Oswald FROST, 8th Durham Light Infantry, Acting Pastor, Munster POW Camp, 4 April 1917: 'A Pte. Clarence O'Neill of the 28th Battn. Australian I.F. was buried in the cemetery attached to this Lager. He had died in Bergkaserne a hospital in the town, but no one here had seen him previous to his death. He was interred on the 16th Oct. 1916 in grave No 272. The Burial Service of the English Church was read over his grave and the hymn Rock of Ages was sung by the party of Englishmen who attended the service. Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal |
| Miscellaneous details | Surname entered incorrectly on Embarkation Roll as O'NEIL. |
| Sources | NAA: V2455, O'NEILL James Clarence
Red Cross File No 2050708M |
Postal Address:
Po Box 7916
Canberra BC 2610, Australia
Street Address:
Northcott Drive,
Campbell, ACT 2600
