Michael O'Neill was born at Wexford, County Wexford, Ireland, in 1871, the son of Michael and Mary O'Neill.
He engaged as a fireman in the Engineering Department on board the Lusitania, at Liverpool, on the 12th April 1915, at a monthly rate of pay of £6-10s.-0d. (£6.50p.). and was killed when she was sunk. He was aged 44 years.
His body was never found and identified afterwards and consequently, he is commemorated on the Mercantile Marine War Memorial at Tower Hill, London.
His brother, John O’Neill, of William Street, New Ross, County Wexford, who was a baker in the town, made frantic enquiries with Cunard in an effort to trace his brother, but without success. Another brother resided in Wexford town.
Liverpool England Crew Lists 1861 – 1919, Cunard Records, Commonwealth War Grave Commission, New Ross Standard, PRO BT 100/345, Deaths at Sea 1871 – 1968, Graham Maddocks, Geoff Whitfield, Michael Poirier, Jim Kalafus, Cliff Barry, Paul Latimer, Norman Gray.
Copyright © Peter Kelly.
Revised & Updated – 30th January 2025.