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Private James O'Neill
British Army 2nd Btn. Durham Light Infantry
from:Jarrow
(d.9th Aug 1915)
3/8215 Private James O'Neill enlisted at Barnard Castle and joined the 2nd Battalion Durham Light Infantry. The prefix 3/ in front of his number refers to the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion, Durham Light Infantry which was based in August 1914 at Newcastle-on-Tyne. A depot/training unit, it moved on mobilisation to South Shields where it then remained as part of the Tyne Garrison. He would have joined this unit for basic training and preparation to join a Service Battalion on active service. He was allocated to the 2nd Battalion and retained his current number (soldiers often changed numbers on allocation to different units). He lived at 7 Straker Street, East Jarrow with his wife Emily O'Neill nee Spencer. A search of 1911 census reveals the family were living at 97 Campbell Street, South Shields with James age 31 working as a Colliery Labourer (shipster)above ground for Harton Coal Company. His wife Emily is 22 years old with son James 1 year old and daughter Emily 3 years old.
James died on the 9th August 1915 aged 35 and is commemorated at the Jarrow Library and at the Menin Gate Memorial Ypres.
