Local MP Commemorated

Commemoration service for first British MP to die in WW1

Lord Eames, former Church of Ireland Primate, conducts the commemoration service for Captain Arthur O’Neill at Westminster

Continue reading the main story

A local Ulster MP Cpt Arthur O’Neill was the  first British MP to die in World War One. His life  has been commemorated at Westminster on the 100th anniversary of his death.

The service for Capt Arthur O’Neill, who was elected as the Ulster Unionist Party MP for Mid-Antrim in 1910, was conducted by former Church of Ireland primate of All Ireland, Archbishop Robin Eames.

Capt O’Neill, father of former Northern Ireland Prime Minister Terence O’Neill, and the lodges local MP died while fighting with the 2nd Life Guards regiment at Zillebeke Ridge in Flanders on 6 November 1914, aged 38.

Arthur O’Neill, the elder son and heir of the second Baron O’Neill and Lady O’Neill of Shanes Castle, County Antrim, was educated at Eton. He was gazetted to the 2nd Life Guards from the Militia in 1897 and served in the earlier part of the South African War, taking part in the relief of Kimberley and operations in the Orange Free State at Paardeberg, the action at Dreifontein, and the action at Colesberg.

Jeffrey Donaldson MP laid a wreath during the service of Capt O’Neill

MPs from several parties gathered at Westminster to commemorate Capt O’Neill

Afterwards, he served in Cape Colony, south of the Orange River, and took part in several actions, for which he was awarded the Queen’s Medal with three clasps. He was promoted to captain in 1902.

In 1902, he married Lady Annabel Hungerford Crewe-Milnes. Two of their sons were to die in action in World War Two.

Capt O’Neill represented Mid-Antrim from the general election of January, 1910 and took an active part in the formation of the Ulster Volunteer Force. Like many of the great unionist families he was anti-Home Rule and, along with Sir William Adair and the Youngs of Galgorm Castle, played a key role in the establishment of the local Ulster Volunteer Force. His military background was invaluable in establishing drilling and training regimes for recruits.

Arch in Henry Street, Harryville, erected to support Captain Arthur O’Neill in his campaign for election to Westminster in 1910. Capt O’Neill can be seen in the centre and George Young is the tall man beside him.

He rejoined his regiment only three weeks before his death. He was killed in action at Klein Zillebeke ridge in Belgium during a bayonet charge while serving with A Squadron, 2nd Life Guards and was the first sitting member of the British Houses of Parliament to be killed during the Great War.

The following is an extract from the Regimental War diary of the events of that time

” The Regt was placed in Reserve in the woods near the 4th Guards Bde H Q. At about 3.30 pm the Bde was urgently sent for and hurried towards ZILLEBEKE to support the French on the right of the Guards Bde who had been driven out of their trenches by a most determined attack.

The Regiment was dismounted under fire close to the above mentioned village and was ordered to establish iteself on the KLEIN ZILLEBEKE ridge keeping touch with the 1st Life Guards on the right who were to ? the line on the right of the Guards Brigade. Maj. the Hon. H. DAWNAY ordered the ‘B’ squadron to advance ? across the open and ? the high ground in front. ? the ‘D’ squadron was send across the ZILLEBEKE – ZWARTETEN road to ? the right flank by moving parallel to the railway. The ‘C’ troop and machine guns were kept in reserve ready to support the ‘B’ squadron. This latter squadron succeeded in reaching the edge of the wood on the ridge after ? fighting owing to the ? bring in ? of ? in?ted horses. Almost at? once the right flank of the ‘B’ became exposed to an enfilade? fire which caused Maj. DAWNAY to order the squadron to fall back slowly by troops. This order was shortly afterwards countermanded owing to French reinforcements appearing. The squadron was then ordered to fix bayonets and charge the wood which the C troop was taken by the C O to fill the gap which had occurred in between the two squadrons. This troop ? attacked the village of ZWARTETEN using the bayonet with great effect and taking a certain number of prisoners. The ‘B’ sqdn meanwhile drove back the enemy several? hundred yards and occupied a ditch 200* from their position. Owing to the trench infantry again falling back the ‘B’ sqdn and the Blues were ordered by the Brigadier to move across the ZWARTETEN – VERBRANDEN-MOLEN road and support the ‘C’ troop which was occuping a single ridge S E of the hamlet. The fighting in this vicinity became very involved owing to the somewhat precipitate retreat of the French and in consequence severe casualties were incurred. Part of the ground gained including a portion of ZWARTETEN was lost?. The situation which was becoming somewhat critical was restored by the ? of the 22nd Infantry Bde which took over the trenches held by the Bde. During these operations the ‘D’ sqdn did not fall back but retained their ground till relieved by the 60th Rifles. The confusion that occurred at one period apart from the aforementioned reason may be attributed to the very severe casualties amongst the officers / 17 in the Bde, Lord Cavan [Brigadier-General the Earl of Cavan] commanding 4th Guards Bde reported that the Bde had behaved in a most gallant manner, and that its prompt and vigorous action had saved what threatened to be a most critical situation.

MARGIN NOTES

Ref. Sheet 28
BELGIUM

*The other 3 troops of ‘C’ squadron were posted on 30th Oct at ZANBE?

Casualties
Killed
Maj. The Hon. H. DAWNAY
Maj. The Hon. A. O’NEIL[L]
2 Lieut. W. PETERSEN
Wounded
2 Lieut. T. JOBSON
Lieut. Q. SANDYS
2 Lieut. A. HOBSON

38 rank and file killed, wounded and missing

3 horses killed
The entry for this eventful day looks to have been hastily written, and is therefore difficult to read in places.

“O’NEILL, Arthur E. B., Captain, 2nd Life Guards, was KIA on the 4th [sic] November 1914. He was aged 38 and was the 2nd son of Baron O’Neill of Shane’s Castle, Randalstown.. He was the MP for Mid-Antrim and was the first MP to die in the war. He is commemorated on the Ypres Memorial (Menin Gate), Belgium.” (from Ballymena 1914-1918)

More on the officers killed on this day from Ballymena 1914-1918

His younger brother Hugh, later Baron Rathcavan, succeeded him as MP for Mid-Antrim.

Capt O’Neill was killed three weeks after rejoining his regiment

Local Heroes

We have already received responses from our appeal for the names and faces and stories of local heroes who both served and paid the ultimate sacrifice in both World Wars. We intend to post the information as and when it comes in then take some time to research and draw it up.

Rifleman Robert Connaughty

 Rifleman Robert Connaughty from Garvaghy, Portglenone. He joined the army as a volunteer in November 1915, being posted to the 18th Btn. Royal Irish Rifles for training before being assigned to the 11th Royal Irish Rifles (South Antrims). He served with ‘A’ coy. of  that battalion on the first day of the Somme when he was almost buried alive by an exploding shell which killed several of his comrades. His army service records confirm he was amongst the wounded of 1st July and was diagnosed with ‘shell shock’ on 5th July 1916. He was again wounded in 1918.

We are aware of Bro Tommy Connaghty from Drumraw and wonder if this is the family connection?

Thanks to the research conducted by the team at

War Memorials Portglenone

Many local men served in both World Wars with distinction, some paying the supreme sacrifice, and it is their names we wish to remember and research in the weeks ahead as the nation pauses to remember.

Many of the memorials are in local churches, or orange halls, and the following list records the men of Portglenone and the surrounding district.

First Portglenone Presbyterian Church

Baird	Willlam		Killycoogan	Private	Inn Fus.
Calwell	Joseph		Tamlaght	Private	11th Hussars
Clarke	G.		Garvaghy	Corporal	H.L.A.
Clarke	D.		Garvaghy	Corporal	A.A.S.
Clarke	Wm.		Garvaghy	Private	Royal Scots	Killed in Action
Connaughty	Hugh		Garvaghy	Private	R.I.R.
Connaughty	Robert		Garvaghy	Private	11th R.I.R.
Coulter	Alex.		Tullnahinin	Private	I.G.	Killed in Action
Dunlop	Alex.		Mullinsallagh	Private	12th R.I.R.
Dysart	Archie		Aughnacleagh	Private
Fleming	Barkley		Garvaghy	Private	36th R.I.R.	Wounded
Haire	R.			Private	11th Hants.
Kilpatrick	Wm.		Finkitagh	Driver	R.F.A.	Prisoner of War, Died
Lamont	James		Lisrodden	Driver	Transport	Wounded
Lamont	Robert		Killycoogan	Driver	16th R. Inn. Fus.	Wounded
Mcilrath	Andrew		Island Cottage	Engineer	R.N.
Marshall	Samuel		Garvaghy	Private	N.I.H.
Montgomery	Thomas		Mount Horan	Private	9th R. Inn. Fus.	Prisoner
Reynolds	Wm.		Tyanee	Private	N.I.H.
Steele	David		Gortfadd	Private	16th R.I.R.
Taylor	Robert			Private	3rd A & S. Hlghldrs.
COLONIAL and U.S.A. FORCES
Andrews	John		Portglenone	Private	Can. F.A.	Wounded
Clarke	James		Garvaghy	Private	U.S. Army
Clements	John		Innisrush	Corporal	T.A., U.S. Army
Kyle	W.		Tyanee House	Corporal	Wellington, N.Z., Force
Kyle	Thos.		Tyanee House	Corporal	Otago Regt., N.Z. Force
McCaughey	Charles		Ballymacpeake	Driver	U.S. Army
McCaughey	Wm.		Ballymacpeake	Corporal	Canadians	D.C.M., Wounded
Montgomery	Harry		Slavanagh	Private	20th Can. B.E.F.
Patton	Archie		Tyanee	Rifleman	N.Z. R.B.	Killed in Action
Patton	James		Tyanee	Private	Aust. I.F.	Wounded
Scott	James		Portglenone	Private	U.S. Army

Third Portglenone Presbyterian Church

Black	Henry		Portglenone	Private	Inn. Fus.
Bonter	Robt.		Portglenone	Private	R.A.F.
Carleton	Robt.		Portglenone	Private	Inn. Fus.
Holmes	Robt.		Portglenone	Private	R.D. Fus.
Law	William		Portglenone	Private	Inn. Fus.	Killed in Action
McLean	Alex.		Portglenone	Private	Inn. Fus.	Killed in Action
McNeill	James		Portglenone	Private	Inn. Fus.	Wounded
Moffett	Alex.		Portglenone	Private	Irish Rifles
Montgomery	Robt.		Portglenone	Private	R.A.F.
Nickle	James		Portglenone	Private	Guards
Ross	Robt.		Portglenone	Gunner	R.F.A.
Stewart	James		Portglenone	Lieutenant	Surgeon
Stronge	Archibald		Portglenone	Private	Gordon Highlanders	Wounded
Williamson	Henry		Portglenone	Private	Seaforth Highlanders	Wounded

Duneane Congregation

Andrews	J.		Duneane	Private	R.I.R.
Canmer	J.		Duneane	Sergeant	R.I.R.
Elliott	Rev. R. C., B.A.		The Manse	Captain	Chaplain
King	Alfie		Toome	Private	R.A.F.
McClure	Dr. S.		Artlone	Lieutenant	R.A.M.C.
Macrory	James		Duneane	Private	R.I.R.
Macrory	Robert		Duneane	Private	R.I.R.
Russell	James		Duneane	Lieutenant	R.I.R.

Facebook Memorial

At this time of year as our minds turn to Remembrance Sunday it is fitting to recall local men who gave their lives for the freedom we now enjoy.

There have been many types of memorial to their deaths, however looking around the modern social media we feel it would be fitting if they and their lives could be remembered in a more personal, more relevant manner.

Each of them had a life which they first put on hold to go to war, then sadly sacrificed as they never returned to resume it. Many were too young to have children to carry on their name and remember them, and as parents and siblings died, so too did their memory. It would we feel be a fitting tribute as local historians have done so much to uncover these local heroes to use that information to build each man a facebook memorial page.

Here their lives, their interests, ideas and relationships could be outlined in a way that todays generation would better understand. Their families could add memories, pay tributes as well as explore what might have been had they returned. The churches, lodges, clubs and circles of friends they once belonged too can also add their tributes.

Lets put a face, and a story to each name we see carved in marble on our local war memorial. Each of us has a family member, or church or lodge member who paid the ultimate sacrifice so why not add a facebook page to you account dedicated to them.