Lieutenant Thomas Michael O’Neill
On May 8, 1918, Lieutenant Thomas Michael O’Neill of No. 43 Sqn took off on a patrol mission aboard his Sopwith F1 Camel (C8298). He was last seen descending east of Bailleul, with his aircraft apparently out of control having been attacked by a group of German Triplanes.
He was listed as missing after the First World War, but recent research and a lot of hard work by the MoD “War Detectives” team ascertained that he was actually buried as an unknown officer of the RAF at Le Grand Beaumart Cemetery, France.
Nicola Nash of the MoD Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre Commemorations team contacted the Association to inform us that a re-dedication ceremony would be held at Le Grand Beaumart British Cemetery.
It was decided that the Association should be represented, so Chairman Derek Johnston and wife Stephanie, Secretary Jim Campbell and Ian ‘Huggy’ Hughes attended. The Service was led by the Reverend Helene Grant RAF, where members of the local community, personnel from the RAF Regiment and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission gathered to pay their respects and lay wreaths. A trumpeter from the Band of the Royal Air Force College played the Last Post and Ian Hughes finished with a specially selected Lament. At the conclusion of the event, as no members of Lt O’Neil’s family could be found, The Chairman was presented with the Union Jack flag that covered the newly installed headstone.
Association representatives were then invited by Serge and members of the Abbaye et aérodromes de Beaupré sur la Lys - La Gorgue organisation to view the site of the airfield where Lt O’Neil was stationed. Although a large factory now stands on the site of the airfield, it was still possible to recognise some of the area and features from photos of the time. A very interesting and well hosted visit that perfectly rounded off a poignant day.
Many Thanks to Stephanie for sourcing the flowers, which she laid on behalf of the Association, and to Huggy for piping the lament.
He was listed as missing after the First World War, but recent research and a lot of hard work by the MoD “War Detectives” team ascertained that he was actually buried as an unknown officer of the RAF at Le Grand Beaumart Cemetery, France.
Nicola Nash of the MoD Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre Commemorations team contacted the Association to inform us that a re-dedication ceremony would be held at Le Grand Beaumart British Cemetery.
It was decided that the Association should be represented, so Chairman Derek Johnston and wife Stephanie, Secretary Jim Campbell and Ian ‘Huggy’ Hughes attended. The Service was led by the Reverend Helene Grant RAF, where members of the local community, personnel from the RAF Regiment and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission gathered to pay their respects and lay wreaths. A trumpeter from the Band of the Royal Air Force College played the Last Post and Ian Hughes finished with a specially selected Lament. At the conclusion of the event, as no members of Lt O’Neil’s family could be found, The Chairman was presented with the Union Jack flag that covered the newly installed headstone.
Association representatives were then invited by Serge and members of the Abbaye et aérodromes de Beaupré sur la Lys - La Gorgue organisation to view the site of the airfield where Lt O’Neil was stationed. Although a large factory now stands on the site of the airfield, it was still possible to recognise some of the area and features from photos of the time. A very interesting and well hosted visit that perfectly rounded off a poignant day.
Many Thanks to Stephanie for sourcing the flowers, which she laid on behalf of the Association, and to Huggy for piping the lament.
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