George Onions
George Onions | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 2 March 1883 Bilston, Staffordshire |
| Died | 2 April 1944 (aged 61) Birmingham |
| Buried | Quinton Cemetery, Birmingham |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service |  British Army |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit | |
| Battles / wars | First World War Anglo-Irish War World War II |
| Awards | Victoria Cross |
| Other work | Police officer |
George Onions VC (2 March 1883 – 2 April 1944) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
Onions first served with the 3rd Hussars and was involved in the Easter Rising in Dublin in 1916.
Onions was 35 years old, and a Lance-Corporal in the 1st Battalion, The Devonshire Regiment, British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On the foggy morning of 22 August 1918, south of Achiet-le-Petit, France, Lance-Corporal Onions was sent out with Private Henry Eades to reconnoitre the area in front of his unit's position. They saw the enemy advancing in large numbers and, seizing the opportunity, they boldly placed themselves on the flank of the advancing enemy and opened fire. When the enemy were about 100 yards from them the line wavered and some hands were thrown up, whereupon the lance-corporal rushed forward and helped by his comrade, took about 200 of the enemy prisoners and marched them back to his company commander.[1]
Private Eades was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal but died of wounds that he received only a few days later.[2][3]
He was later commissioned into the Rifle Brigade. After World War I, Onions served in the Auxiliary Division of the Royal Irish Constabulary.[4] In 1939 he was commissioned a Captain in the Royal Warwickshire Regiment for National Defence, but resigned his commission in 1941.
His Victoria Cross is displayed at The Keep Military Museum, Dorchester, Dorset, England.
References
- ^ "No. 31067". The London Gazette (Supplement). 13 December 1918. p. 14778.
- ^ "lifestory of Private Henry Eades". Retrieved 30 March 2016.
- ^ "Biography of Lance Corporal George Onions, from the website of The Keep Military Museum". Retrieved 30 March 2016.
- ^ A D Harvey, "Who Were the Auxiliaries?" Historical Journal 35, no. 3 (1992): 665-69.
- 1883 births
- 1944 deaths
- People from Bilston
- Devonshire Regiment soldiers
- Rifle Brigade officers
- British Army personnel of World War I
- British Army personnel of World War II
- Royal Warwickshire Fusiliers officers
- British World War I recipients of the Victoria Cross
- Royal Irish Constabulary officers
- 3rd The King's Own Hussars soldiers
- People of the Easter Rising
- British Army recipients of the Victoria Cross