George Onions

George Onions
Born (1883-03-02)2 March 1883
Bilston, Staffordshire
Died 2 April 1944(1944-04-02) (aged 61)
Birmingham
Buried Quinton Cemetery, Birmingham
Allegiance  United Kingdom
Service/branch 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

  1. ↑ "No. 31067". The London Gazette (Supplement). 13 December 1918. p. 14778.
  2. ↑ "lifestory of Private Henry Eades". Retrieved 30 March 2016.
  3. ↑ "Biography of Lance Corporal George Onions, from the website of The Keep Military Museum". Retrieved 30 March 2016.
  4. ↑ A D Harvey, "Who Were the Auxiliaries?" Historical Journal 35, no. 3 (1992): 665-69.
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