Hugh O'Neil

The Battalion arrived at Boulogne on the 08/07/1915 and were part of the 44th Brigade, 15th (Scottish) Division when Hugh was Killed in Action whilst undertaking his role as a stretcher bearer. Hugh arrived in France on the 14/07/1915. From the 24/04/1916 the 44th Brigade were in the Hohenzollern sector. The sector extended from the Vermelles-Hulloch road on the right to Mud Trench on the Vermelles-Auchy road. At the start the 44th Brigade occupied the Quarries section. At 5.20 am on the 27th April the Division experienced its 1st German gas attack. After a somewhat heavy artillery bombardment, clouds of greenish gas were seen rolling towards the trenches held by the 44th Brigade in the Quarries sector. On the 29th another, and very different, gas attack took place. This time it was directed mainly against the line of the 16th (Irish) Division on the south, the northern edge of the cloud only passing over the right Battalion of the 44th Brigade (the 9th Black Watch). This time the gas was much stronger, and not mixed with smoke as it had been before. It was very difficult to see, and the Black Watch suffered a good many casualties from a change of wind which blew the gas back over their area after the men had removed their masks. See Newspaper clippings for a letter to Hugh's mother from the Captain of his Company. Hugh had been through the Battle of Loos and the long winter of 1915-16. A Priest was with him when he died. Hugh was reburied in St. Mary's Advanced Dressing Station Cemetery (see photos). See photos for Hugh's Medal Index Card, his Newspaper clippings x 2, his Service Medal and Award Rolls x 2, his CWGC Grave Registration x 2, his Headstone Report, St Mary's A.D.S. Cemetery, Hugh's Pension Records x 2 and the Black Watch Cap Badge.