George Onions VC (2 March 1883 – 2 April 1944) was an

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

recipient of the

Victoria Cross The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest and most prestigious award of the British honours system. It is awarded for valour "in the presence of the enemy" to members of the British Armed Forces and may be awarded posthumously. It was previously ...

, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies. ** Britishness, the British identity and common culture * British English, ...

and

Commonwealth A commonwealth is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good. Historically, it has been synonymous with "republic". The noun "commonwealth", meaning "public welfare, general good or advantage", dates from the ...

forces. Onions was born in Bilston Staffordshire. He had a varied early life working in mining and as a commercial traveller. He spent three years in Australia and at the start of the War was an Iron and Steel Merchant living in Scotland and married with a son. On the declaration of War he enlisted with the 3rd Hussars and was involved in the

Easter Rising The Easter Rising ( ga, Éirí Amach na Cásca), also known as the Easter Rebellion, was an armed insurrection in Ireland during Easter Week in April 1916. The Rising was launched by Irish republicans against British rule in Ireland with the a ...

in Dublin in 1916. Onions was commissioned into

The Rifle Brigade The Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort's Own) was an infantry rifle regiment of the British Army formed in January 1800 as the "Experimental Corps of Riflemen" to provide sharpshooters, scouts, and skirmishers. They were soon renamed the "Rifle ...

in September 1916. In December 1916 he was involved in a fracas in a London restaurant. He was found to be absent without leave and was court martialed and cashiered. Given the shortage of experienced junior officers this would seem to be unduly harsh. Most Commanding Officers preferred to deal with junior officers' misdemeanours in house. There were fewer than 60 cashierings in the entire war. There may have been other reasons why 2Lt Onions was dealt with so severely. Onions immediately reenlisted as a private in the

Devonshire Regiment The Devonshire Regiment was a line infantry regiment of the British Army that served under various titles and served in many wars and conflicts from 1685 to 1958, such as the Second Boer War, the First World War and the Second World War. In 1958 ...

. He was determined to redeem himself and insisted on returning to the Front as soon as possible. He was back in France by April 1917. Onions was 35 years old, and a

Lance-Corporal Lance corporal is a military rank, used by many armed forces worldwide, and also by some police forces and other uniformed organisations. It is below the rank of corporal, and is typically the lowest non-commissioned officer (NCO), usually equiv ...

in the 1st Battalion,

The Devonshire Regiment The Devonshire Regiment was a line infantry regiment of the British Army that served under various titles and served in many wars and conflicts from 1685 to 1958, such as the Second Boer War, the First World War and the Second World War. In 1958 ...

, during the

First World War World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

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 Achiet-le-Petit () is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in northern France. Geography A farming village located 13 miles (21 km) south of Arras, at the D27 and D9 road junction. History * In 1700, Charles Jacques Adrien de Mullet, ...

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

, Lance-Corporal Onions had been sent out with Private Henry Eades to make contact with the battalion on their right flank when they saw the enemy advancing in large numbers to counter-attack the positions gained the previous day. 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 Lance-Corporal Onions rushed forward and, helped by his comrade, took about 200 of the enemy prisoner. He then formed them up in column of fours and marched them back to his company commander. Private Eades was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal but died of wounds that he received only a few days later. On his application Onions had his commissioned restored into the

Rifle Brigade The Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort's Own) was an infantry rifle regiment of the British Army formed in January 1800 as the "Experimental Corps of Riflemen" to provide sharpshooters, scouts, and skirmishers. They were soon renamed the "Rifle ...

in August 1919. However, it was an honorary apportionment as he had to resign the commission on the same day. Like many

temporary gentlemen Temporary gentlemen (sometimes abbreviated to TG) is a colloquial term referring to officers of the British Army who held temporary (or war-duration) commissions, particularly when such men came from outside the traditional "officer class". His ...

Onions found life difficult after the War. He served in the

Auxiliary Division The Auxiliary Division of the Royal Irish Constabulary (ADRIC), generally known as the Auxiliaries or Auxies, was a paramilitary unit of the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) during the Irish War of Independence. It was founded in July 1920 by Major ...

of the

Royal Irish Constabulary The Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC, ga, Constáblacht Ríoga na hÉireann; simply called the Irish Constabulary 1836–67) was the police force in Ireland from 1822 until 1922, when all of the country was part of the United Kingdom. A separate ...

.A D Harvey, "Who Were the Auxiliaries?" ''Historical Journal'' 35, no. 3 (1992): 665–69. He lost two jobs due to neglect and in June 1925 was changed with fraud - namely bouncing a cheque for £5:00. He was treated leniently due to his military service and previous good record. In 1939 he was commissioned a

captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...

in the

Royal Warwickshire Regiment The Royal Warwickshire Regiment, previously titled the 6th Regiment of Foot, was a line infantry regiment of the British Army in continuous existence for 283 years. The regiment saw service in many conflicts and wars, including the Second Boer War ...

for National Defence, but resigned his commission in 1941. He was killed in a motoring accident in 1944. His Victoria Cross is displayed at The Keep Military Museum, Dorchester, Dorset, England.

References

* http://theauxiliaries.com/men-alphabetical/men-o/onions-g/onions-g.htm
Location of grave and VC medal
''(Birmingham)''

*
Lifestory from Lives of the First World War

The 1st Battalion The Devonshire Regiment in World War One
{{DEFAULTSORT:Onions, George 1883 births 1944 deaths Burials in Warwickshire 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 Road incident deaths in England Military personnel from Staffordshire