Distinguished Service Order, Colonel William Henry Slingsby O’Neill, Royal Dublin Fusiliers (metal)

Distinguished Service Order awarded to Colonel William Henry Slingsby O’Neill, Royal Dublin Fusiliers. Born on 28 May 1854, Slingsby was commissioned as a lieutenant with the 103rd Foot (Royal Dublin Fusiliers) on 10 September 1875. He was promoted to captain on 20 January 1884 and to major on 16 May 1894. He served in South Africa between 1899 and 1902 with the 1st Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers, being present at the Relief of Ladysmith, Laings Nek, operations in Orange River Colony and operations in the Transvaal. Slingsby was also Mentioned in Despatches on 7 February 1901. His Distinguished Service Order (DSO) was announced in the ‘London Gazette’ on 19 April 1901 ‘In recognition of services during the recent operations in South Africa’. In November 1902 he became a Lieutenant-Colonel and in 1909 a colonel. Slingsby later commanded the 3rd Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers, during World War One (1914-1918).