Mar 9, 1882

Born in Glasgow, Scotland

Nov 7, 1914

Attested into the 21^st Battalion in Kingston, Ontario

The original attestation paper has been lost and missing from the file.  The information below is from an attestation paper that was signed January 23, 1917 and placed in his file.  A copy of that attestation paper is posted online with the Library and Archives Canada website, but the date was changed to read January 23, 1915 instead of 1917 and shows him attesting in Hastings, Ontario.  This is incorrect.  Private James O’Neill was posted to the 1^st Canadian Training Battalion in Hastings, England on January 23, 1917.  This is confirmed by the witness to that attestation, Capt. George Robert Browning, who was Company Commander, “A” Company, 1^st Canadian Training Battalion, Hastings, England on that date.

Ø  Number 59766 (temporary number 106)

Ø  Next of kin given as Mrs. Hanna Tracey, 8 Riverview, Purfleet, Essex, England

Ø  Previous occupation given as Carpenter

o   Later noted as Machine Wood Worker

Ø  No previous military experience given

Ø  Religion given as Roman Catholic

Ø  Posted to “A” Company

The 21^st Battalion trained in the Kingston, Ontario area through the winter of 1914-15.

May 6, 1915

Embarked the RMS Metagama in Montreal, Quebec

May 15, 1915

Disembarked in Devonport, England and the battalion proceeded to the West Sandling Camp, near Hythe, Kent to continue training

Jun 28, 1915

Fined $6.00 for being drunk

Jul 29, 1915

Admitted to the Saint Martin’s Plain Tent Hospital with a diagnosis that reads VDG (Venereal Disease Gonorrhea)

Sep 2, 1915

Posted to the Depot Company

Sep 3, 1915

Transferred to the Barnwell Military Hospital in Cambridge

Sep 14, 1915

The 21^st Battalion embarked for France while Private O’Neill remained in hospital

Sep 25, 1915

Transferred to the 39^th Reserve Battalion for pay purposes while in hospital

Sep 27, 1915

Discharged from hospital and reported to the 39^th Reserve Battalion in West Sandling

Oct 26, 1915

Transferred to the 21^st Battalion

Oct 27, 1915

Arrived at the CBD (Canadian Base Depot) in the Rouelles Camp, Havre, France and TOS (Taken On Strength) the 21^st Battalion

Nov 3, 1915

After leaving the base depot, Private O’Neill rejoined the 21^st Battalion resting in La Clytte, Belgium

Dec 7, 1915

Admitted to the 2^nd Division Rest Station at the No. 6 Canadian Field Ambulance, Lokre, Belgium, with a sprained ankle

Dec 11, 1915

Discharged to duty from the rest station

May 18, 1916

Sentenced to 14 days Field Punishment No. 1 for being absent from parade to enter the trenches and for being drunk

Jul 21, 1916

Attached to the Wood Cutting Party for duty

Aug 3, 1916

Admitted to the 102^nd Field Ambulance with diagnosis that reads VDH (Valvular Disease of the Heart).  He was transferred the same day to the 34^th Division Rest Station

Aug 5, 1916

Discharged to duty from the rest station and rejoined the Wood Cutting Party

Aug 28, 1916

Ceased to be attached to the Wood Cutting Party

Sep 15, 1916

During the 21^st Battalion’s capture of the sugar factory south of Courcelette, France on the Somme, Private O’Neill received a through and through bullet wound to his right forearm and was evacuated to a field ambulance for first aid before being transported to a casualty clearing station

Sep 16, 1916

Transferred to the No. 1 Australian General Hospital in Rouen, France

Sep 17, 1916

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship Maheno

On arrival in England, he was admitted to the Bethnal Green Military Hospital in London

Transferred to the CCAC (Canadian Casualty Assembly Centre) for pay purposes while in hospital

Sep 26, 1916

Transferred to the Canadian Convalescent Hospital in Bromley

Oct 3, 1916

Discharged from hospital and reported to the Canadian Casualty Assembly Centre.  Medical exam on reporting states his bullet wound has healed, but man is “somewhat nervous”.  4 weeks pf Physical Training is recommended

Oct 9, 1916

Attached to the 2^nd CCD (Canadian Command Depot) for 4 weeks of Physical Training at St. Leonard’s Hospital in Sussex

Jan 3, 1917

On being discharged from hospital care, he was transferred to the 1^st CCTB (Canadian Corps Training Battalion) in Hastings

Jan 23, 1917

Medical exam notes

Patient complains of smothering feeling and dizziness when walking.  Heart rate is 120, but otherwise normal.  Gradual exercise is recommended

Jan 24, 1917

Transferred to the newly formed 6^th Reserve Battalion in East Sandling with light duties.  Shortly after the formation of the battalion, it moved to Seaford to train reinforcements for the front

Mar 19, 1917

Granted permission to marry

His next of kin was changed to read Mrs. Elizabeth O’Neill, 20 Shirard Gardens, Eltham, Kent

Nov 24, 1917

Attached to the Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot when he was admitted to the Canadian Military Hospital in Aldershot with a relapse of his Gonorrhea infection

Dec 10, 1917

Discharged to duty and rejoined the 6^th Reserve Battalion in Seaford

Mar 5, 1918

Admitted to the Canadian Military Hospital in Etchinghill with for ongoing treatment of his Gonorrhea infection

Aug 23, 1918

Discharged to duty from hospital

Feb 14, 1919

Attached to the CDD (Canadian Discharge Depot) Buxton pending return to Canada

Mar 8, 1919

Embarked the SS Minnedosa in Liverpool

Mar 17, 1919

Disembarked in Saint John, New Brunswick

Mar 21, 1919

Discharged from the CEF in Saint John, New Brunswick

Ø  Rank on discharge Private

Ø  War Service Badge Class “A” issued number 80603

Ø  Proposed residence on discharge Winnipeg, Manitoba

Following his discharge, he was entitled to the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medals.  There is no medals card in his file to indicate if the medals were ever sent to him, or if sent, where they were delivered to.

Feb 13, 1922

James O’Neill died while a patient of the British Columbia Mental Hospital in Essondale, British Columbia of Exhaustion of Acute Mania and was buried in the Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver, British Columbia