THE family of a Victoria Cross holder who served alongside Laurence of Arabia and is buried in a West Wirral cemetery have paid tribute to him after a ceremony to lay a plaque on his grave.
Former soldiers stood alongside serving members of the armed forces to remember the bravery of Sgt John O'Neill who was decorated with the Victoria Cross for his bravery during World War I when he led the charge of an enemy battery.
With just 11 men they managed to capture four field guns, two machine guns and sixteen prisoners.
And, in a further act of bravery, Sgt O'Neill, backed up by just one soldier, rushed an enemy machine-gun position, routing about 100 enemy and causing many casualties.
His remarkable courage and powers of leadership led to him also to being awarded the military medal and the French equivalent during the war. He served with both the Leinster Regiment and the Royal Air Force and was a sergeant in both.
Sgt O'Neill died on October 16, 1942 aged 45 of a heart attack whilst serving as a Lieutenant with 295 Company Pioneer Corps.
He had originally served with the Prince of Wales's Leinster Regiment (Royal Canadians) but it was disbanded in 1922.
He then went on to serve with Laurence of Arabia in the RAF after re-enlisting.
The memorial service was arranged by the Leinster Association, which was set up in 2003 to keep alive the traditions of the regiment.
Sgt O'Neill's nephew, Arthur O'Neill, said he had known his uncle until he was about 13. He had been "very impetuous with a short fuse" but had never appeared violent.
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