Ongs in the British Army and Royal Navy during the First & Second World Wars

Lancashire Landing Cemetery, near Cape Hellas, Gallipoli, Turkey

In one of my earliest genealogical postings many years ago (and re-published by this blog here), I mentioned visiting the British Commonwealth Cemeteries in the Gallipoli penninsula of Turkey and unexpectedly coming across - and within only a few minutes of getting out of our car for the first time - the gravestone of an Ong.  I will elaborate a little:  I was living with my wife in Istanbul and working for the representative office of an American bank.  We were being visited by my mother-in-law, and decided to make a weekend trip by driving southwest along the Marmara Sea to Gallipoli which forms the west bank of the Dardanelles, the straits between the Marmara and the Aegean Seas.  This had been the scene of the Gallipoli Campaign of 1915 in which forces of the British Empire launched a direct attack on Turkey, or more properly the Ottoman Empire, which had allied itself with the German and Austro-Hungarian Empires.  The campaign is famous for having been a) the brainchild of Winston Churchill, the then-Liberal Member of Parliament and First Lord of the Admiralty (i.e. Cabinet member responsible for the Royal Navy), b) a humiliating defeat as the British forces failed to establish a front much beyond the initial beachheads leading to their evacuation after seven months, c) a crucible for the rising independent national identities of Australia and New Zealand, whose forces performed heroically in an ultimately losing effort, and d) the proving ground of senior Turkish commander Mustafa Kemal Pasha, who later became the Republic of Turkey's first President (re-named as Kemal Ataturk) as a result of his leadership and drive for Turkish independence with sovereignty over all of Anatolia after the the collapse of the Ottoman Empire in the early 1920s.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission maintains 31 separate cemeteries with the remains of soldiers from predominantly Britain, Australia, New Zealand, India and Newfoundland

The cemeteries are scattered along the front of the campaign which for the most part lay very close to the western coast of the peninsula.  Our first visit was at the Lancashire Landing cemetery at Cape Hellas, where, as the name implies, the 1st Lancashire Fusiliers landed under very heavy enemy fire, and 80 of the men buried here died in the first two days of the campaign.   My wife, mother-in-law and I each randomly picked a row of gravestones and walked along and surveyed the names.  About halfway across "my" row, I came across: "W.H. Ong, Quartermaster Sergeant, Lancashire Fusiliers."  It was a very mystical experience - the odds of my seeing this out of over 20,000 headstones at Gallipoli were so low.  It was also a reminder of the English roots of my family, and of course made me curious to know about the Ongs in England had fared after my branch cast off to America in 1630.  That curiosity, on a broader scope, eventually led to this blog.

As I did a few years ago with the American Civil War, here below follows a list of those with the surname Ong who served in the British Armed Forces in World Wars I and II.  It is compiled from public records, and may contain errors, omissions and duplicates.  I have also not (yet!) reviewed these names for family relationships, although no doubt there are many.  One cousin, Harry Ong, a career seaman in the Royal Navy, served in both wars!

The lethality of WWI, where almost a third of the Ongs who served were killed or died of their wounds, is striking.

World War I (The Great War) 1914-1918

Albert Charles Victor Ong, Private, South Staffordshire Regiment, then Labour Corps

Alfred William Ong, Private, Northumberland Fusiliers, then Labour Corps 1916-1918

Alfred William Ong, Sergeant, Devonshire Regiment 1915-1920 (from London SW6)

Arthur Ong, Private, Royal Army Medical Corps (1917-19): Salonica, Russia and Turkey (1 year 1 month) (Served in Salonika, Russia & Turkey. Cited in London County Council Staff Record of Service)

Arthur Ong, Private/Sapper, Norfolk Regiment, then Royal Fusiliers, then Labour Corps, then Royal Engineers  (from Norwich, Norfolk)

Arthur John Ong, Private, 21st Bat., King's Royal Rifle Corps

Benjamin Ong, Lance Sergeant, 2nd Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment, killed in action, Loos, 27 Sep 1915 (from Pendleton, Salford, Greater Manchester.  Widow Lilian (Kerry)  Commemorated at Loos Memorial, Pas-de-Calais, France)

Cecil Samuel Baldry Ong, Private, 1st/4th Battalion, Essex Regiment, killed in action in Palestine 25 Nov 1917  (Aged 40.  From Norwich, Norfolk.  Buried at Ramleh War Cemetery, Palestine (now Ramla, Israel).  Son of Charles and Ellen Mary Ong, Husband of Rose Anna Ong of Norwich, Norfolk)

Edward Ong, Private, 9th Battalion, Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment, killed in action 20 Sep 1917, Third Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele) (from Salford, Lancashire.  Commemorated at Tyne Cot Memorial, West Flanders, Belgium)

Edward Ong, Private, 1st Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers, killed in action 16 May 1917, Battle of Arras (Aged 20.  From Norwich, Norfolk.  Commemorated at Arras Memorial, France)

Ernest George Ong, Private, 2nd Battalion, Norfolk Regiment

Frederick Charles Ong, Private, 9th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers, killed in action, France, 27 Mar 1918  (mother Fanny M. Ong of Islington, London.  Commemorated at Pozieres Memorial, Somme, France)

Frederick James Ong, 5th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers, killed in action 24 Apr 1915 (Aged 24.  From Hammersmith, Greater London.  Buried at St. James Cemetery, Dover, Kent, England)

George Ong, Able Seaman, Royal Navy, 1908-1922 (from Fulham, London.  Distinguished Service Medal awarded in connection with operations in the Dardenelles on HMS Blenheim on night of 4/5 May 1915.  Awarded Long Service and Good Conduct Medal 1931.)

George Ong, Private, 12th Battalion, Norfolk Regiment

George Albert Ong, Lance Corporal, 1st/7th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers, died of wounds, Gallipoli, 7 Aug 1915 (from Salford, Lancashire.  Buried at Skew Bridge Cemetery, Gallipoli, Turkey)

George Walter Ong, Company Quarter Master Sergeant, 28th Manchester Regiment, 1908-1917

Harry Ong, Armourers Crew, Royal Navy, 1918- (from Seedley, Salford, Greater Manchester.  See WWII below.  Awarded General Service Medal.  Awarded Long Service and Good Conduct Medal 1933.)

Herbert Stanley Ong, 2nd Garrison Battalion., Suffolk Regiment, 1915-1917  (from Harlow, Essex, son of William Warren Ong)

James William Ong, Private, Essex Regiment, then The King's (Liverpool) Regiment

John Ong, Private, 3rd Battalion, Notts & Derby Regiment (Sherwood Foresters), 1916-1918  (from Norwich, Norfolk)

John Ong, Sapper, 9th Co., Royal Engineers

John Ong, Royal Defence Corps

John Henry Ong, Gunner, London Brigade, Royal Garrison Artillery

John Henry Ong, Sergeant, 13th, then 16th Batt., London Regiment (Queen's Westminster Rifles) 1916-1919  (from Islington, London  (brother to Frederick Charles?) 

Joseph Ong, 5th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment, then 2nd/5th Battalion Gloucester Regiment, then Labour Corps, 1914-1919

Joseph Ernest Ong, Sergeant, 1/7th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers, 1913-16 (Wounded at Gallipoli.  from Pendleton, Salford, Greater Manchester)

Joseph Humphrey Ong, Private, Royal Army Medical Corps, killed in action, 21 Aug 1918 (Aged 40.  From Norwich, Norfolk.  Buried at Gommecourt Cemetery No. 2, Hebuterne, France.  Son of Edward & Elizabeth Ong.  Husband of Gertrude Ong of Norwich.)

Lawrence Arthur Ong, Private, 13th Battation, King's Liverpool Regiment, killed in action 19 May 1918 (Aged 18.  from Pendleton, Salford, Greater Manchester.  Buried at Pernes Cemetery, Pas-de-Calais, France.  Son of George W. and Aimie Ong)

Robert William Ong, Essex Yeomanry 1908-1914, then Driver, Royal Army Service Corps -1919

Ronald Lancelot Newman Ong, Gunner, Royal Garrison Artillery  (from Brentwood, Essex.  Son of Henry Ong)

Sidney Arthur Ong, 3rd Battalion, Norfolk Regiment, 1915-1918

Thomas Albert Ong, Driver, Royal Army Service Corps, 1914-1919

Thomas Ong, Chief Petty Officer, Royal Navy, 1893-1919 (from Norwich, Norfolk.  Awarded Distinguished Service Medal (plus bar))

Thomas Ong, Private, Royal Army Medical Corps, 1912-1919

Walter Ong, Private, 7th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers 1915-1919

William Ong, Private, 2nd Battalion, Essex Regiment (captured Monchy-le-Preux, France, 14 Apr 1917)

William Ong, Warrant Officer, 4th East Lancashire Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, 1892-1916

William Ong, Private, 3rd Middlesex Regiment, then 13th then 6th Lancashire Fusiliers 1915-

William Ong, Private, King's Own Royal Lancashire Regiment

William Ong, Stoker Petty Officer, Royal Navy, 1905-17, lost in sinking from contact mine of HMS Derwent off Le Havre, France, 2 May 1917 (Aged 29.  From Norwich, Norfolk, son of William & Julia Ong, husband of Caroline Rebecca Ong of Norwich.  Commemorated at Chatham Naval Memorial, Kent)

William Ong, Private, 1st Battalion, Norfolk Regiment 1899-1917 (from Norwich, Norfolk)

William Ong, Private, 2nd/1st Suffolk Yeomanry, 1915-19

William George Ong, Gunner, Royal Marine Artillery, 1913-  (awarded Long Service and Good Conduct Medal 1931)

William Henry Ong, Company Quarter Master Sergeant, 1/8th Lancashire Fusiliers, died of wounds, Gallipoli, 14 Jun 1915  (from Seedley, Salford, Greater Manchester.  Buried at Lancashire Landings Cemetery, Gallipoli, Turkey)

William John Ong, Private, Suffolk Regiment, then Labour Corps

World War II 1939-1945

A. Ong, Private, Royal Army Service Corps (POW Stalag 334, Labinowice, Poland)

Albert Edward Ong, Trooper, Staffordshire Yeomanry, Royal Armoured Corps, killed 15 June 1941, buried Damascus British War Cemetery #2, Syria (Aged 32.  Son of George & Mary Ong and husband of Nellie E.M. Ong; from Cheshunt, Hertfordshire) 

Basil Ong, General Service Corps

F.E. Ong, 2nd Lieutenant, Royal Pioneer Corps

G. Ong, Quarter Master, Royal Engineers

George Ernest Ong, Ordinary Seaman, Royal Navy, HMS Curacao, killed 24 April 1940 (from German airstrike during Norwegian Campaign.  Commemorated at Chatham Naval Memorial, Kent)


Harry Ong, Ordnance Artificer 1st Class, Royal Navy -1945 (see WWI above)

Robert William Ong, Private, Suffolk Regiment, killed in action 6 Jun 1944 in D-Day Landings.  (Aged 33.  Buried in Hermanville Cemetery, Calvados, Normandy, France)

Russell Ong, Sergeant, 6th Battalion, Royal Norfolk Regiment (POW in Singapore)

Robert Glenn Ong (11 November 1924 - 31 January 2018)

World War II veteran, beloved husband, father, grandfather, uncle, friend

Robert Ong, 93, a resident of Elkton (FL) since 2005, stands as a shining example of what it meant to be part of “The Greatest Generation.” Known by friends and family as Bob, he was born in Uniontown, PA on November 11, 1924, the first of two children of William Ong and Ruth Strickler Ong.

The family moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where Mr. Ong attended Allegheny High School, graduating in 1942.

Soon thereafter, he felt the call to service and in November of 1942, joined the Army Strategic Air Forces and served his country both at home and abroad until January of 1946. During World War II, he was part of the Japan Air Offensive and the Western Pacific campaigns. Mr. Ong was awarded the American Theater Ribbon; the Asiatic-Pacific Theater Ribbon with two Bronze Stars; the Good Conduct Medal; and the World War II Victory Medal.

Upon returning from the war, Mr. Ong embarked on a long and successful career in the construction industry, spending more than 40 years with Ragnar Benson, Inc. as a purchasing agent and financial controller. His career began in Pittsburgh but later took him to several large-scale commercial projects in Tennessee, Texas and Florida.

Mr. Ong was a talented pianist, avid swimmer, hiker and traveler. He was known to all as a kind and generous soul, with a wonderful sense of humor. He was an active member of the Veterans Club at Coquina Crossing, his last place of residence.

Mr. Ong is predeceased by his beloved wife Alice, and sister Doris. His three children survive him: Lorraine Cleghon, of Chattanooga, Tennessee; Valerie Ong, of Orlando Florida; and Robert Dale Ong of Elkins, West Virginia. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews as well as grandchildren and great grandchildren.

A military burial at Jacksonville National Cemetery will be announced once arrangements are completed.

(Published in St. Augustine (FL) Record on Feb 11, 2018.  h/t to Valerie Ong)

The 1541 will of John Onge of Thelnetham

I recently read a challenge on another genealogical blog suggesting that family historians adopt a New Year's resolution of sharing information on one ancestor each week in 2018.  So one would need to post on 52 ancestors in 52 weeks.  Since I share something less than once a month on this blog, that requires a real step-up in activity.  I am not sure how realistic that is, but here goes!

Recently Ong Family History's distinguished London correspondent, Les Ong, shared a transcript of the will of John Onge of Thelnetham, Suffolk, dating from 1541.  What makes this person particularly interesting is that in the list of his minor age children there is both a John and an Edmund Onge, therefore making this John Onge a possible common ancestor of the families of John Onge of Hartest (d. 1609) and Edmund Onge of Lavenham (d. 1573) both of whom had descendants who emigrated to New England (and in some cases returned to England) in the 1630's, which of itself suggests a close relationship.  There is also a George, who could be the George Onge of Hinderclay (d. 1612), and these three 16th/17th century Onge family groups together appear to us to be possibly the forebears of most (or all?) of the known living Ongs of English ancestry.  This is still a theory, but it's an interesting working one for now!

Thelnetham is a small village and parish to the south of the River Ouse, which is also the Norfolk/Suffolk border, and is just a few miles ENE of Barningham, the village of the very earliest Onge records (1280's), and also the residence of this John Onge's "brother", who is also (mysteriously) named John Onge, according to the will.  Perhaps "brother" means something broader than we commonly understand it.

At the time of the writing of this will, the 50-year old King Henry VIII had been on the throne of England and Ireland for 32 years, and was in his fifth, brief marriage to the then 18-year old Queen Catherine (Howard), who was stripped of the title of Queen in November 1541 and subsequently executed in early 1542 for treason by committing adultery.

The original of this will is located at the Suffolk Records Office.  The original manuscript image is not permitted to be reproduced, but the transcript is in the public domain, and is as follows:

John ONGE, Thelnetham, Suffolk.

Will made   26 Jun 1541.

Will proven 18 Jul 1541.

Archdeaconry of Sudbury.

In the name of God Amen the 26th day of June in the year of our Lord God 1541 I John ONGE of Thelnetham whole of mind and of good memory being all my testaments before this day had or made I now utterly revoke and make this my present testament and last will in manner and form following.

First I bequeath my soul to God almighty to our lady Saint Mary and to all the holy company of heaven and my body to be buried in the churchyard of Saint Nicholas in Thelnetham.

Item. I bequeath to the high altar within the church aforesaid for my tithes forgotten or negligently paid 12d.

Item. I bequeath to the church of Saint Nicholas in Thelnetham 20d.

Item. I bequeath to Maryon my wife 20 marks of lawful money of England under this condition that the said Maryon release her dowry and give a lawful estate of all the lands that she is infeoffed in unto my executors when so ever they shall receive it off her. And if it so be that the said Maryon my wife will not give estate of the lands abovesaid according to this my last will but make claim of or challenge to them or any parcel of them by cause of her dowry either in the house or in the lands then I will that all such gifts and bequests as I have given and bequeathed unto her by this my present will be none void and of no effect as well of the 20 marks as of the other legacies bequeathed unto her.

Item. I will that Maryon my wife have the occupying of my house and lands in Thelnetham for the term of 10 years under this condition that the said Maryon bring up my children honestly therewith and repair the house sufficiently during the said term and pay the rent and if so be that the said Maryon do not lawfully bring up my children then I will that mine executors in like manner and form as she should have done take the said house and lands and bring them up with all except 5 acres and a rood of land the which I will that they be sold by the hand of my executors for to pay their charges with all whereof one acre and a half lying at at Bromstoke herne one acre and a half in Langland fold half an acre at Ornche 3 roods in Feltham crofts and an acre lying in Dotrells by Sterlynge.

Item. I will that Robert my eldest son have my house and my lands in Thelnetham at the age of 21 years except those that I willed to be sold and that under this condition that the said Robert shall pay or cause to be paid to John Edmund George and Thomas my sons to every of them 10 marks of lawful money of England in 3 years by equal portions when that they shall come to the age of 21 years and if so be that any of them happen to decease before the said age of 21 years then I will that the part or parts of him or them so deceased be equally divided among them that shall be alive.

Item. I bequeath to Alys my sister of Thetford 3s 4d.

Item. I give to Robert John and Edmund my sons to every of them a cow and they to be delivered at Michaelmas next coming.

Item. I give to George my son a cow and my wife to have the occupying thereof 2 years and then to be delivered to the said George my son.

Item. I bequeath to Thomas my son a cow and his mother to have the occupying of the said cow 6 years and then to be delivered unto the said Thomas.

Item. I give to Maryon my wife a horse a cow and a bed complete with a part of the stuff.

Item. I bequeath to every of my sons one sheep and a pewter platter.

Item. I bequeath to Robert my son my best brass pot and my best coat.

Item. I give to Maryon my wife all my linen and woollen that is unbequested.

Item. I will that John ONGE of Barnyngham my brother have 8 acres of free land lying in Barnyngham paying therefore 20 marks of lawful money of England whereof I will that he pay £10 to the executors of Robert CALDWELL of Hopton in discharging mine obligations wherein he is bound for me and the residue of the 20 marks for to help bear the charges of this my present testament.

Item. I will that Maryon my wife receive the 20 marks bequeathed unto her after this manner of form that is to say 26s 8d at the feast of Michael the Archangel next after the payment of the last obligation that I am bounden to Robert CALDWELL abovesaid and so forth every year at the said feast 26s 8d till the said sum of 20 marks be fully content and paid.

Item. I require all my cofeoffers that are infeoffed in any of my lands for to give estate of my lands when so ever they shall be lawfully required by mine executors to the performance of this my present testament.

The residue of all my goods not above bequeathed nor assigned I put wholly to the disposition of my executors whom I ordain and make John ONGE of Barnyngham my brother and John BARNHAM of Thelnetham my lawful executors for to do and furthermore to dispose as it shall seem most expedient for the health of my soul.

These witness

Thomas ALBYN
John BARKER
Wyllm GENT

with other.

Probate granted 18th July 1541.

St. Nicholas Church, Thelnetham, final resting place of John Onge, d. 1541