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Pioneer William John Campbell was the son of James and Mary Campbell. Husband of Mary Welsh and father to Josephine. He was from 3 Bruce Street, Clydebank and joined the army for the Great War in Glasgow on the 18th of August 1915.

William served under the alias “Thomas O’Neill”.

Pioneer Thomas O’Neill (or William John Campbell) served with the Royal Engineers and eventually died in Londonderry’s Waterside Infirmary on the 12th of June 1919 after being admitted on the 8th of May 1919 suffering from phthisis pulmonalis.[1]

At the time of death, he is listed as being an ex-soldier. It is unknown why he served and died under a different name. If the records are correct, then he served several times under service number 703670 at home and abroad with the Black Watch and Royal Artillery prior to 1901. His total service would be 20 years and 196 days (on and off). His last stint saw him nearly go to France with the 4th Labour Battalion, but before he left, he was listed as being AWOL.[2] It turned out he was in hospital.

A few months later a medical hearing was held, and Private O’Neill was discharged for “not being an efficient soldier” due to him suffering from tuberculosis. The illness that ultimately took his life.

Date of Death: 12/06/1919 (Aged 49)

Service: Pioneer, Royal Engineers

Service Number: 115928, 703670

Burial Location: Londonderry (or Derry), City Cemetery, MA. 236.


[1] Pulmonary phthisis or tuberculosis (TB) is an infection of the lung, which leads to wasting away of the body.

[2] AWOL – Absent without leave

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