1900 15th Jun.
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Born
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Birthplace Dublin
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1901
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Ireland Census:-
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Son of Morgan O’Connell (Age 38, Born 1863, Kerry)
Mary O’Connell (Age 37, Born 1864, Cork)
Brother of Donal O’Connell (Age 7, Born 1894, Dublin)
Bridget White (Domestic Servant, Age 23, Born 1878, Kildare)
Harriet O'Brien (Servant, Age 23, Born 1878, Manchester)
Mary Mcara (Servant, Age 21, Born 1880, Kerry)
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1911
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Census
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Student Age 11 - St Anthony's School, Vicarage Road, Eastbourne, Sussex
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1913 May.
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Enlisted Royal Navy
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Sub-Lieutenant
(Records Royal Navy Officers 1899-1919)
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1916 4th Sep.
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Lieutenant
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1920
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Police Officer
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Departure 18th December Berwnhead-Singapore
In the ‘CAP FINISTERRE’,
Shipping Line NIPPON YUSEN KAISHA
Ship Master CF.H. Butler from Liverpool
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1926
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Departure 4th June London-Singapore
In the ‘RANPURA’,
Shipping Line PENINSULAR & ORIENTAL STEAM NAVIGATION CO.
Ship Master A.M. King from London
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Married Lucila Concha Deasy
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Occupation - Artist
Born 1904
To Henry Hugh and Delores Deasy
Wimbledon
Surrey
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1935
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Crown Agent
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Departure 21st June London-Singapore
In the ‘RANCHI,
Shipping Line P.&O.S.N.CO
Ship Master C.E. Short
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1936
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Son Maurice Born
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1941
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Commandant of the Police Training Depot in Singapore
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1941 22nd Nov.
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Son Seamus Born
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1941
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Wife Lucila & children Maurice & Seamus
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Departed Singapore
Address Lakeview, Kilarney Eire (view was of the Lakes of Killarney)
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1942 15th Feb.
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Basil Captured Singapore
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Held Changi Camp in room 3 2 22; number 2343
His other camp was Sime Road 41.
Survived
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1945 27th Aug
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Basil left Singapore
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Arrived Liverpool
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1948
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Deputy Commissioner of Malaya
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Basil returned after WWII and resumed his police career, serving as Deputy Commissioner of Police in Singapore, being effectively operational commander during the 'confrontation' of 1st May 1948. He subsequently became Director of the CID on the mainland and eventually Deputy Commissioner for the 'Federation' in the early stages of the Malayan Emergency, war with the Malayan National Liberation Army (Communist guerrillas).
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1949
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Resigned as Deputy Commissioner
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He resigned in 1949 in protest against what he regarded as the deeply flawed and inefficient conduct of those hostilities. His views, (e.g. on the possibility that helicopters might have a role to play in jungle warfare!!!), were subsequently upheld when there was a total overhaul of tactics and strategy following the ambush killing of Sir Henry Gurney, British High Commissioner.
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1949 3rd Oct.
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Left Malaya
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Departed Rangoon for London
In the ‘Corfu’
P and O Steam Navigation Company Ltd
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1953
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Lucila died
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Age 49
Cause of death cancer
Place of death Dublin
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British Musem
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In retirement, Donal served for some time as an attendant in the Magna Carta Room in the British Museum.
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1970
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Basil Morgan Benedict Died
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2013 15th Aug.
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Son Seamus died
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Royal Free Hospital in London
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