TOPIC:

I am trying to research on my Great Uncle Cornelius O'Neill who was sadly killed in WW1. He served in the 6Th BTN Royal Irish.
I have discovered to soldiers called C O'Neill, who served in the Boer war with the 1st BTN Royal Irish. Their regimental Numbers are 5256 and 6664.
Is there anywhere I can research on these two soldiers to determine more information, D.O.B, address etc which would help me determine whether either of them is actually my relative ?
Any help would be appreciated.
Regards
E Luck

Welcome to the Forum - Think 5256 is your great uncle (see below). His attestation papers and service record can be found on Find My Past - if you don't have membership let me know and I will download them and post on here.

First name(s) Cornelious
Last name Oneill
Birth year 1876
Birth parish St Marys
Birth town Clonmel
Birth county Tipperary
Birth country Ireland
Service number 5256
Regiment Royal Irish Regiment
Year 1894
Attestation date 08 Nov 1894
Attestation age years 18
Attestation service number 5256
Attestation corps Royal Irish Regiment
Discharge corps Royal Irish Regiment
Document type Attestation
Archive reference WO 97
Series Wo 97 - Chelsea Pensioners British Army Service Records 1760-1913
Box 5624
Box record number 27
Archive The National Archives
Country Ireland
Record set British Army Service Records
Category Military, armed forces & conflict
Subcategory Regimental & Service Records
Collections from Great Britain, UK Other

First name(s) C
Last name O'Neill
Service number 6664
Rank Private
Regiment 1 Battalion The Royal Irish Regiment
Rolls WO100/326 page 71
Year 1899-1902
Biography -
Event detail Wounded Dangerously on 19/03/1902 at Lydenburg
Event unit 1 Battalion The Royal Irish Regiment
Event source SAFF
Event notes Explosion of bomb thrown by Boers
Country Great Britain
Notes KSA Clasps: SA01,SA02
Record set Anglo-Boer War Records 1899-1902
Category Military, armed forces & conflict
Subcategory Boer Wars
Collections from Great Britain, UK None

Thank you for this very speedy response. I do not have a membership and very much appreciate you looking into this for me. With the information you have provided I think C O’Neill 6664 is the more likely as my relative was born in 1873 in Waterford.
I am hopeful with the info you have given me that I will be able to find detail perhaps on WO 100/326.

Afraid the attestation papers & service record of 6664 have not survived which may be because he was your great uncle and was killed in WW1. The WO 100/326 refers to the medal roll which confirms he was awarded the Kings South Africa Medal with the two clasps - South Africa 1901 & South Africa 1902. This shows he served for at least 18 months in the Boer War. He should appear on a second medal roll regarding the Queen's South Africa Medal he must also have been awarded but that seems to have gone AWOL. Cornelius O'Neill born 1873 and died 1916 in France appears on several accessible family trees on Ancestry - none of them have him serving in the Boer War.

As Smethwick has already mentioned, your relation was awarded the KSA with 2 date clasps. He was also entitled to a Queens South Africa medal with 3 clasps.
Orange Free State, Cape Colony and Transvaal.





Dave.......

For your records
KSA medal roll



Dave.......