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Dec 6, 1874
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Born in Dublin, Ireland to John and Anne (nee
Sherwood) O’Neill
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Nov 24, 1914
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Attested into the 21st Battalion in Kingston, Ontario
Ø Number 59765 (temporary number 1094)
Ø Next of kin given as John O’Neill, brother, no address given
Ø Previous occupation given as Clerk
Ø Previous military experience given as Royal Arsenal, Woolwich
for 6 years as Bookkeeping Clerk
Ø Religion given as Church of England
Ø Posted to the Depot Company
His medical exam noted that he was essentially blind in his
right eye and could only perceive light.
It was later recorded that he lost the sight of the right eye as the
result of a gun powder explosion in 1886 while employed at the Royal Arsenal.
On attesting, the medical examiner noted his lost vision and
wrote “fit except for eyesight. Would
do as Clerk.”
The 21st Battalion trained in the Kingston, Ontario
area through the winter of 1914-15.
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May 6, 1915
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Embarked the RMS Metagama in Montreal, Quebec
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May 15, 1915
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Disembarked in Devonport, England and the
battalion proceeded to the West Sandling Camp, near Hythe, Kent to continue
training
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May 20, 1915
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Transferred to the 2nd Canadian
Division Headquarters and attached to the 2nd Division Staff to be
employed as a Clerk
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May 24, 1915
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Attached to the 30th Reserve Battalion
at Shorncliffe
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Jun 2, 1915
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Ceased to be attached to the 30th Reserve
Battalion and rejoined the 2nd Division Staff
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Jun 17, 1915
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Ceased to be attached to the 2nd
Division Headquarters and rejoined the 21st Battalion
Posted to “D” Company
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Sep 2, 1915
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Posted to the Depot Company
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Sep 14, 1915
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Embarked the St. Seiriol in Folkestone
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Sep 15, 1915
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Disembarked in Boulogne, France and the battalion
proceeded to St. Omer
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Jan 7, 1916
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Attached to the 250th Tunnelling Company for duty
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Feb 6, 1916
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Admitted to the No. 22 General Hospital in
Etaples with a diagnosis that reads NAD (No Appreciable Disease), although
not recorded in the file, this was most likely due to his poor eyesight
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Feb 11, 1916
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Discharged to the Base Details in Etaples
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Feb 18, 1916
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Attached to the No. 3 General Base Depot in
Etaples
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Mar 3, 1916
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Proceeded to England on being transferred to
Canadian Training Division in Shorncliffe after being classified PB
(Permanent Base) meaning he was not fit for front line duty
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Mar 4, 1916
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Transferred to CCAC (Canadian Casualty Assembly
Centre) in Hastings
Medical Board on arrival notes
Ø Man is weak
Ø He is blind in right eye
Ø Suffered an injured right
ankle at the front
Ø He is over age and permanently
unfit for full service
Ø He has a good education and is
intelligent
Ø He is approved for Permanent
Base Duty
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May 15, 1916
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Transferred to the CAPC (Canadian Army Pay Corps)
and attached to the Pay Officer in London
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May 24, 1916
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Admitted to the Bethnal Hospital for observation
of Meningococci (Cerebro Spinal Fever)
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Jun 9, 1916
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After testing negative, he was discharged to duty
from hospital and granted 5 days sick leave
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Dec 28, 1916
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Transferred to the CCAC (Canadian Casualty
Assembly Centre) in Hastings
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Dec 31, 1916
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Attached to the Canadian Army Pay Corps in
Hastings for duty
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Jan 4, 1917
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Transferred to the 1st CCTD (Canadian
Corps Training Battalion) and attached to the GDD (Garrison Duty Depot) in
Hastings for duty
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Feb 13, 1917
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Attached to the Records Office in London for duty
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Mar 10, 1917
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Transferred to the Eastern Ontario Regimental
Depot and attached to the Garrison Duty Depot
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Apr 10, 1917
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Attached to the Records Office in London
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Jun 21, 1917
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Awarded the Good Conduct Badge
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Jul 20, 1917
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Transferred to the Records Office in London
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Aug 8, 1917
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Transferred back to the EORD (Eastern Ontario Regimental
Depot) in Seaford
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Oct 6, 1917
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Medical report notes
Ø Vision in right eye is reduced
to a perception of light only, caused by a gunpowder explosion in 1886
Ø Vision in left eye is reduced
to about half
Ø Condition of right eye could
might cause serious trouble in his left eye at any time
Ø Other systems are normal
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Nov 22, 1917
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Admitted to the No. 14 General Hospital in
Eastbourne with a diagnosis that reads defective vision
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Nov 29, 1917
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Transferred to the No. 5 Canadian General
Hospital in Kirkdale
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Dec 29, 1917
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Embarked the Hospital Ship Araguaya in Liverpool
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Jan 9, 1918
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Disembarked in Halifax, Nova Scotia and proceeded
to Kingston, Ontario where he was posted to the Military District No. 3
Special Service Company
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Jan 18, 1918
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Medical Board in Kingston notes
Ø Man has no vision in right eye
Ø Left eye has Astigmation and
requires glasses to read
Ø Complains of pain over left
eye
Ø Glasses were issued in
England, but a new prescription was recommended to improve vision in left eye
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Jan 28, 1918
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Discharged from the CEF in Kingston, Ontario
Ø Rank on discharge Private
Ø Entitled to War Service Badge
Class “A”
Ø Proposed residence on
discharge General Delivery, Ottawa, Ontario
Following his discharge, the 1914-15 Star,
British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to him at 87 Kent St., Ottawa,
Ontario
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Aug 28, 1952
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James Charles O’Neill died while a patient of the
Rideau Health and Occupational Centre, Ottawa, Ontario and was buried in the
Beechwood Cemetery in Ottawa
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