b. 02/03/1883 Bilston, Staffordshire. d. 02/04/1944 Birmingham.
George Onions (1883-1944) was born on 2nd March 1883 at Wellington Street, Bilston, Staffordshire. His father, Zachariah “Zacary” Webb Onions, was born in West Bromwich, and married Amy Susan Skemp on 23rd July 1880 at Wood Street Chapel, Bilston, where she was born. Zachariah was listed as an ironworks manager in 1881. Sadly, Amy died in 1884. Zachariah remarried to Jane M Farquhar, born in Edinburgh, on 15th October 1887 at Tynemouth, Northumberland. By 1891 they had moved to Stalybridge, Cheshire, then later onto Pontypool, Monmouthshire. Due to his work, they were on the move again soon afterwards, to Chester, and then finally settled in Birmingham. George had eight siblings from his father’s two marriages.
George was educated at West Monmouthshire Grammar School, Pontypool and by 1901 was an analytical chemist’s assistant at Abersychan, Monmouthshire. He was employed by Tirpentwys Colliery to train as a mining engineer and was involved in an accident on 1st October 1902, in which eight miners were killed when the winding cable snapped as they were ascending an upcast pit. George then left mining and opened his own steel merchant and manufacturer’s agency. He emigrated to Australia in 1904 for health reasons.
George married Florence McFarlane Donaldson (from Scotland originally) at St Paul’s, Brisbane, Queensland on 31st August 1907. They returned to Britain, arriving on 15th November 1907 and he was described as a commercial traveller. They lived initially in Scotland, before moving to Edgbaston, Birmingham, before moving on to Sale, Cheshire by 1915. They had a son, George Zac Onions, born in 1909. Sadly, he would die aged just 23 in 1932.
George Onions VC
George enlisted in 3rd (King’s Own) Hussars in Sale on 5th September 1914 and went to France on 18th October 1915. He was in Dublin, Ireland with 9th Reserve Regiment of Cavalry during the 1916 Easter Rising. He was appointed officer cadet and was commissioned in The Rifle Brigade on 26th September 1916. Whilst on leave in London, he was involved in a disturbance in a restaurant, and was court-martialled and cashiered on 22nd December.
George enlisted in 1st Devonshire on 14th April 1917 and went to France three days later. He was evacuated to hospital in England in May and did not return to the Western Front until March 1918. He was promoted to lance corporal shortly afterwards.
On 22nd August 1918 south of Achiet-le-Petit, France, Lance-Corporal Onions, having been sent out with one man to get in touch with the battalion on the right flank, saw the enemy advancing in large numbers. Seizing his opportunity, he boldly placed himself and his comrade on the flank of the advancing enemy and opened fire. When the enemy were about 100 yards from him 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.
His brave actions on 22nd August 1918 in Achiet-le-Petit in Northern France earned him the Victoria Cross nomination. His citation was published in the London Gazette on 14th December 1918. On the same day, Onions was badly gassed and transported back to England for treatment and convalescence in Liverpool. After the War, he was promoted to the rank of Major. He received his VC from King George V at Buckingham Palace on 13th February 1919. He was then given £100 in contributions.
He attended the VC Garden Party at Buckingham Palace in 1920 and the VC Dinner at the House of Lords in 1929. At the latter event he met the other two of the “Savoury Pie” trio of West Country Regiment VCs – Veale and Sage.
He then saw service in the Auxiliary Division of the Royal Irish Constabulary from 1921-1922. He was appointed the Bristol and district salesman for Messrs Berkel and Parnell in 1925 and was also manager of a firm of ironmasters and merchants in the Birmingham area.
In 1936 he moved to Birmingham, and on the outbreak of World War II, he was commissioned in the Royal Warwickshire Regiment as part of the National Defence Companies. In April 1941, he resigned his commission due to ill health. George Onions died on 2nd April 1944 in Birmingham, with his last address as 4 Hagley Court, Hagley Road, Edgbaston. He had been involved in a motoring accident. He was buried in Quinton Cemetery, Birmingham. His grave fell into disrepair and was refurbished in 2014 by local stonemason Mark Brady. He is commemorated with a VC commemorative stone at Bilston War Memorial, unveiled on 22nd August 2018.
His medals including his VC, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal 1914-20, Victory Medal 1914-19 and King George VI Coronation Medal 1937 are held by The Keep Military Museum, Dorchester, Dorset.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: THE KEEP MILITARY MUSEUM, DORCHESTER, DORSET.
BURIAL PLACE: QUINTON CEMETERY, BIRMINGHAM.
SECTION 6, GRAVE 7364
Acknowledgements:
Kevin Brazier – Cemetery Map.
Steve Davies – Image of the Onions VC Medal Group at The Keep Museum, Dorchester.
Mark Sanders – Image of the Onions VC Medal Card.