McNEILL, John

Previous Service 4 A.A. Batt. John McNeill enlisted in the RAAF in March 1940 and in April 1941 Sergeant / WAG John McNeill (wireless air gunner) set sail from Australia, arriving in Singapore on 11 April, (Good Friday) and was immediately sent to Kota Bharu the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) base of operations in Northern Malaya, he returned to Singapore as the Japanese launched concurrent attacks on Malaysia and Pearl Harbour on 7 & 8 December 1941. John McNeill was killed in a flying battle over Singapore on January 18th, 1942, age 23, he was the first St Joseph’s boy to be killed in action.

Last Name
McNEILL
Given Names
John
Service Number
400259
Date of Birth
15/08/1918
Birth Location
Ballarat VIC.
Enlistment Date
21/07/1940
Enlistment Location
Melbourne
1Wags Start Date
19/08/1940
Course Details
WAGS Course 4
Intake Date
18/08/1940
Finish Date
10/02/1941
To
1 BAGS
Kill Date or Discharge Date
18/01/1942 (Killed)
Discharge Unit
8 SQN
Rank
Sergeant
Operations
Flying battle Singapore
Date of Death
18/01/1942
Age
23
Cemetery / Memorial
Kranji War Cemetery Singapore
Notes

Previous Service 4 A.A. Batt. John McNeill enlisted in the RAAF in March 1940 and in April 1941 Sergeant / WAG John McNeill (wireless air gunner) set sail from Australia, arriving in Singapore on 11 April, (Good Friday) and was immediately sent to Kota Bharu the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) base of operations in Northern Malaya, he returned to Singapore as the Japanese launched concurrent attacks on Malaysia and Pearl Harbour on 7 & 8 December 1941. John McNeill was killed in a flying battle over Singapore on January 18th, 1942, age 23, he was the first St Joseph’s boy to be killed in action.

Posting on Death
8 Squadron
NAA Status
OPEN USB
1WAGS - McNEILL John - Service Number 400259
1 WAGS McNEILL John 400259 St Josephs Geelong

Acknowledgements

National Archives of Australia - 1 WAGS BallaratUBC Web Design - 1 WAGS BallaratCity of Ballarat - 1 WAGS BallaratAPCO Alfredton - 1 WAGS BallaratDepartment of Veterans Affairs - 1 WAGS BallaratAustralian War Memorial - 1 WAGS BallaratRSL Virtual War Memorial - 1 WAGS Ballarat