Charles Henry O’Neill

A Name on the Mumbles War Memorial

One of the names commemorated on the Mumbles War Memorial is Charles H. O’Neill, yet his name does not appear in the records of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. This raises an important question: who was Charles H. O’Neill?

Early Life and Family

1901 Census

Charles Henry O’Neill was born in 1896 in Liverpool, the son of Patrick O’Neill and Margaret O’Neill. At the time of the 1901 Census, the family were living at 51 Lamb Street, Kirkdale, Liverpool. Patrick, aged 32 and born in Ireland, was employed as a mariner stoker, while his wife Margaret, aged 30, managed the household. Their children were Margaret (9), John (7), Charles (5), and Mary (3). Also present in the household were visitors Mary Kearns (41) and her sons William (15) and Joseph (13).

Census Records and Family Circumstances

1911 Census

By the 1911 Census, the family had moved to 45 Rockingham Street, Kirkdale, Liverpool. Patrick does not appear in this census, and Margaret, now aged 40, is recorded as the head of the household. Her children living at home were Margaret (20), employed as a dry goods merchant; John (18), working as a docker labourer; Charles (16), employed as a boilermaker; and Susan (9), who was still attending school.

Military Service

Service Papers

Charles’s military service papers have survived and provide a detailed account of his wartime service. He enlisted on 19^th August 1914 at Cardiff, joining the Welsh Horse. At the time of enlistment, his home address was recorded as Slade Road, West Cross, Swansea. He later transferred to the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, 10th Battalion.

His service record shows that Charles initially served at home, before being posted to Egypt, where he served from September 1915 to October 1916. He then returned to Britain, serving there between October 1916 and September 1917, before being sent to France in September 1917.

Death and Burial

Charles Henry O’Neill died on 22^nd December 1917, following his discharge from military service. He is buried at Grevillers British Cemetery, Grevillers, France.