Michael and the Battalion arrived at Le Havre on the 19/12/1914 and were part of the 82nd Brigade, 27th Division. Michael was Killed in Action at the action of St. Eloi, 14th - 15th March 1915. This was the Divisions 1st action after arriving In December. Michael was 1 of 38 of his Battalion killed when the Germans attacked south of Ypres on the opening day of the action in which the 27th Division where the only Division involved : On the 14/03/1915, the Germans attacked St. Eloi after springing two mines and captured the village, trenches nearby and the Mound, a spoil heap about 30 ft (9.1 m) high and 0.5 acres (0.20 ha) in area, on the west side of a rise, south of the village. The 80th Brigade of the 27th Division had fought hand-to-hand with the attackers but could not counterattack, because of a lack of close reserves and German artillery barrages isolating the attack front. Just after midnight, two Battalions managed to counter-attack and retook the village and the lost trenches. The Mound was not regained as the Germans had managed to consolidate and retained the advantage of observation from it. This was subsequent to the Battle of Neuve Chapelle, 10th - 13th March 1915. SEE PHOTOS x 11 FOR THE BATTALION WAR DIARY FROM THE 1st - 14th MARCH 1915. SEE APPENDICES x 5 FOR LIST OF OFFICERS AND OTHER RANKS CASUALTIES IN MARCH 1915 AND MAPS. Michael is listed as O'NEIL on the Coatbridge Memorial. Grave photo kindly donated by Mick McCann at the British War Graves website who supply photos FREE OF CHARGE
here. Michael is also remembered on the St. Augustine's Church and Stewarts and Lloyds Rolls of Honour and on the online Dublin Roll of Honour (see photos). See photos for Michael's Medal Index Card, his Newspaper clipping, his Service Medal and Award Rolls x 2, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his CWGC Grave Registration x 2, his Headstone Report, his listing in the Ireland Casualties WW1, another photo of Michael's Grave, Dickebusch Old Military Cemetery, Michael's Pension Records x 6 and the Royal Irish Fusiliers Cap Badge.
