L/Corporal Abraham O' Neil 4613869

[Peter Beckett]

I am seeking any information regarding L/Corporal Abraham O'Neil, 1st Battalion Manchester Battalion who died on 2 November 1943 and who is buried in Thanbyuzayat War Cemetery in Myanmar.
I have sent to TWGPP a request (I am a volunteer) for a photo of his grave
I have just met his son in a caravan park in Charleville, Queensland and who knows nothing about his fathers fate. He was born in 1942 so never met his father. He and his father both came from Mossley in Lancs.
Looking forward to any information

Thanks in advance

Peter

[sphinx]

Peter,

I can tell you he died of dysentery on 2.11.1943 at Kami Sonkrai, Thailand.

Lived at 28 Bank Side, Mossley.

regards

[charlie]

His number indicates that he enlisted into the Duke of Wellingtons (West Riding) Regt.

Charlie

[Peter Beckett]

Hi Charlie and Sphinx,
Great info! Any way of finding out where the 1st Btn were at the start of the war and following movements til his capture?

Cheers, Peter

[Peter Beckett]

BTW, I now have a photo of his grave if anyone is interested

Peter

[charlie]

Peter,
The 1st Bn were already in Singapore at the outbreak of war. There is a short history of the Bn here:

http://themanchesters.org/forum/index.php?topic=6359.0

We always like to see photos.

Charlie

[Peter Beckett]

Charlie,
Thanks for the link. Is it possible to find out when he enlisted?

Peter

[sphinx]

As he enlisted in the Duke of Wellingtons (West Riding) Regt you would have to ask their Regimental Museum if they have Enlistment Books and ask them for his entry.

regards

[rafboy]

The Order of Battle (Museum Archive Reference MR1/3/1/15) shows him as having been in the A.A Platoon.

Available from the Museum/Archive for a small fee is a document Reference MR1/3/1/18 First Battalion The Manchester Regiment Malaya, Thailand, Burma 1939 ~ 1945 you may like to get hold of.
Cliff

[david robins]

Hi Peter My name is Ann and, as well as being Dave's wife, I am Abrahams great neice. my great uncle left mossley in 1938 and never came back home, so he didn.t have any children. he does however  have a nephew that lives in Australia named after him, so this is possibly who you met, my uncle Abe, i have all my great uncles regiment documents and medals, as we have researched everything and my husband is in the middle of writing his life story. he never returned to Mossley so he couldn't have a son born in 1942.  please don't hesitate to contact me, xxx he

[Bob.NB]

Records give his address as: 28 Bank Side, Mossley.
He was part of "F" Force which left Singapore on 26 April 1943.
See http://www.pows-of-japan.net/articles/99.html for more details.
Bob.B