Sqdrn Ldr O’Neill was born in India on 7.02.1890. William Hickley Lovell O’ Neill came from a family with long standing military connections and was educated at Sandhurst. In 1910 he went to India and served with the 51st Sikhs Frontier Force. During WW1 he was wounded several times and earned The Military Cross for Gallantry. In 1917 he left his regiment to join the Royal Flying Corps only to be wounded again when his plane crashed in Egypt whilst training. He then returned to India and re-joined his former regiment. After the war he joined the Royal Air Force and served at the aerodrome in Karachi. He was on the flight to India to take up a civil aviation post representing the Secretary of State for India.
Tragically, lost his life in the loss of the R101 on 5th October 1930.
His obituary concludes “A man of fine physique, a gallant, enthusiastic officer, a cheery companion, and loyal generous friend. He is mourned and missed by all who knew him.”
*With grateful thanks to Isabelle Sambrook for her sterling work on tracing this man and his family.