*Exceptional WWI Onions Family Identity Disc Group – John Onions 3054, Manchester Regiment & Company Sergeant Major; Arthur Onions 9880 DCM KIA, South Lancashire Regiment*
A remarkable and fully researched First World War family group of British Army identity discs (“dog tags”) to the Onions family of Douglas, Isle of Man, comprising the matched 1916-pattern fibre identity discs of John Onions, Manchester Regiment, together with the earlier aluminium identity disc of his son Company Sergeant Major Arthur Onions DCM, South Lancashire Regiment, killed in action in 1918.
The group includes the red circular and brown octagonal vulcanised fibre identity discs to J. Onions. The red circular disc is stamped “J. ONIONS / 2 MAN REGT / 3054 / C.E.”, while the brown octagonal disc is stamped “J. ONIONS / 3054 / C.E. / 4 MAN”. The initials C.E. denote Church of England, included to ensure correct burial rites. The markings indicate service with the 2nd/4th Battalion, Manchester Regiment, a Territorial Force battalion designation commonly abbreviated in this manner during the Great War. Both are marked with service number 3054, identifying John Onions, Manchester Regiment, later Labour Corps service number 570978, a Warrant Officer Class II and long-serving former Volunteer Battalion soldier.
Also included is the earlier pre-1916 aluminium identity disc stamped “C.E. / A. ONIONS / 9880 / S. LAN. R”, to Arthur Onions, with C.E. denoting Church of England, included for correct burial rites.
Approx. Measurements – Aluminium disc: 3.5 cm diameter. Red fibre disc: 3.5 cm diameter. Brown octagonal disc: approx. 3.7 cm x 3.5 cm.
History Note:
John Onions was a true “Old Sweat,” a veteran Manchester Regiment Volunteer and former Company Sergeant Major who served with the 1st Volunteer Battalion Manchester Regiment, rising through the ranks from Corporal to Sergeant and later receiving the Volunteer Long Service Medal in 1909. His long pre-war service provided the military foundation for a large family in which multiple sons would later serve during the Great War. He re-enlisted during the war, serving as a Warrant Officer Class II with the Manchester Regiment under service number 3054, later transferring to the Labour Corps as 570978, and earning the British War Medal and Victory Medal. Contemporary newspaper reports from Douglas also note him as a Sergeant Major and later serving in France during the war. His medal entitlement directly confirms the service number recorded on the matched fibre identity discs. The family were well-known residents of 12 Sidney Street, Douglas, Isle of Man, and their names appear within the Manx National Roll of Honour records. The surname occasionally appears as “O’Nions” in military records, census returns and newspaper reports, a recognised period variation of the family name.
The family connection is strongly supported by both the 1901 and 1911 Census records. In 1901, John and his wife Esther Onions were living with their children including Arthur, Albert, and Joseph, firmly proving the brothers were raised together in the same household. By 1911, the family were in Douglas, Isle of Man, with younger children still at home, while Esther’s completed census return records 10 children born alive, 6 still living, and 4 deceased, confirming a large family with several children already living independently. Arthur had already joined the South Lancashire Regiment and appears separately on military returns, while Joseph was likely already working away from home.
His son, Company Sergeant Major Arthur O’Nions DCM, born in 1894, served with the 2nd Battalion South Lancashire Regiment, entering France on 14 August 1914, making him a recipient of the 1914 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal, and placing him among the early BEF “Old Contemptibles.” A 1914 newspaper report records him serving with the Expeditionary Force as a section commander and writing home after the heavy early fighting, noting that only 200 men remained from his original 1,200. Wounded and hospitalised at the 1st Western General Hospital, Liverpool, in October 1914, he returned to service and rose from Lance Corporal to Company Sergeant Major. For conspicuous gallantry during operations in August 1917, likely during the opening stages of Third Ypres (Passchendaele), he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM), published in the London Gazette of 17 April 1918: “For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during lengthy operations, when, by his courage, energy, and resource, he set a fine example to all ranks with him.” He was killed in action during the Third Battle of the Aisne on 31 May 1918, aged only 24. CSM Arthur Onions has no known grave and is commemorated with honour on the Soissons Memorial, France, and was also entitled to the official Memorial Death Plaque.
Another son, Joseph Onions, served with the Manchester Regiment under service number 53398, surviving gas shell poisoning and wounds in 1918 before later appearing in the Police Gazette as a deserter who subsequently rejoined service. Brother Albert Onions served with the King’s Liverpool Regiment and later the Cheshire Regiment under service numbers 16/26927 and 28662, serving in Salonika and later recorded as deceased, being commemorated on the Douglas Town Hall Roll of Honour. This makes the group an exceptional surviving representation of a wartime serving family, with a father and multiple sons all in uniform during the Great War, and Joseph appearing to be the only son known to have safely returned home after the war.
Fully researched family groups with named identity discs, confirmed gallantry awards, casualty attribution, and strong Isle of Man provenance are highly sought after and increasingly difficult to find.
*Condition*
Condition is good overall for age and service use, with expected field wear, oxidation to the aluminium disc, age-related rubbing, and handling wear throughout. Fibre discs remain clearly legible and retain their original cords. A highly evocative and premium WWI family group with outstanding research potential. Please see photographs as part of the condition report.
JAQ#3063CE0_5957238613
