Bertram Oscar O'Neil (abt. 1880 - 1902)

Born about 1880 in Auckland, New Zealand

Ancestors

Died 9 Aug 1902 at about age 22 in Somes Island, Wellington, New Zealand

Biography

Not located his birth record - must be hidden under odd spelling.

8th Contingent to South Africa.

Died aged 22 - after returning from South Africa

BURIED - (with his father) at St Peter's In the Forest Anglican Cemetery, Bombay, Franklin, New Zealand

https://www.nzwargraves.org.nz/casualties/bertram-oscar-oneil

Biographical Notes: Trooper Bertie O’NEIL and Trooper Rudolf John Thompson MANNING St. Peter in the Fields, Bombay, New Zealand. Bertie O’Neil and John Manning left for the Boer War together, aboard the Drayton Grange, on the 14th April ,1902, with the 10th Contingent. They undoubtedly knew each other, growing up in the same district. O’Neil’s father farmed at Bombay and Manning’s at Paparaka, near Pukekhoe. Both died from illness contracted on board ship, returning from South Africa. Manning returned on the Montrose, which arrived in Auckland on the 18th August, 1902, dying from pneumonia following scarletina on the 14th, between Australia and Auckland. He was buried at sea with full military honours. O’Neil travelled on the Britannic to Wellington, berthing on the 1st August, 1902. Many of the troops on board were suffering from measles and pneumonia. O’Neil, with others, was transferred to isolation on Somes Island, where he died a week later. Trooper Manning has no “official” memorial according to government sources. His name is inscribed on the side of Bertie O’Neil’s headstone at Bombay and on the Ranfurly Memorial. Source: Evening News, Wellington, August 1902, various articles, Ministry for Culture and Heritage, Phil Beattie

Matiu (Somes Island) in Wellington Harbour was used as a human quarantine station until the end of the First World War. People on board ships arriving in Wellington who showed signs of infectious illness were quarantined on the island in an effort to preserve the health of local residents. There is a memorial to those who died from their illnesses while on the island. Note that Trooper O'Neill is not mentioned! Later on his father get a mention?

Please come forward and add more to this profile........

Sources

• http://bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz

Cemetery records

https://www.nzwargraves.org.nz/casualties/bertram-oscar-oneil