Private Felix O’Neill transferred to the 40th Foot Regiment from the Artillery in June 1820 when it was stationed at Rochdale, near Manchester in England. He went with the regiment to Ennis in Ireland in September 1820 and he spent most of the year 1822 on detachment at Buttevant, Mallow and Athone.
Felix was with the 40th Foot when it moved to Chatham on the Thames River in 1823 after being ordered to New South Wales. After a long wait for embarkation, he made the voyage to the colony on the “Prince Regent”, which left Chatham on 20th December 1823. He had been in Sydney for only a few months when he was selected to go to Moreton Bay with the detachment which was to guard the convicts at the penal settlement to be established there.
Private Felix O’Neill arrived in Moreton Bay on the “Amity” on 12th September 1824.
Aboard the Amity were John Oxley, Lieutenant Henry Miller – the newly appointed Commandant of Moreton Bay Settlement, 21 soldiers who brought their wives and families, and 29 convicts whose labour was required to build the new settlement. Also on this expedition was botanist Allan Cunningham, surveyor Robert Hoddle.
A detailed history of the original 1824/25 convict settlement can be found at the following link: https://www.redcliffebook.com/post/original-convict-settlement-humpybong-1824-25 served at the convict settlement at Redcliffe for six months.
Private O'Neill served at the convict settlement for six months and died there on the 15th March 1825. He was the only soldier to die at the settlement. The cause of his death is not known.
His grave was unmarked but its location was most likely now under the carpark at Bluewater Square.
From the book The Pictorial History Of Redcliffe 1824-1949.
Private Felix O'Neill is listed on the wall of the Redcliffe Wall of Fame:
A collection of portrait and information honouring the achievements of individuals who have influenced and shaped Redcliffe. The collection is in the Jetty Arcade at 139-141 Redcliffe Parade.
For a complete list of people who appear on the wall click on the following blog post: