King's Recognition of a V.C. Hero.

The "Daily Mail" says:- Another soldier who has "made good" is Lance-Corporal George Onions, V.C., of the 1st Devonshire Regiment.

Lance-Corporal Onions, who now lives at Monkseaton, enlisted in the early days of the war, and was soon promoted lieutenant in a well-known regiment. One evening he got up in a disturbance in a restaurant. Someone from the back gave an instruction which he resented rather forcibly. The new arrival was an assistant provost-marshal, to whom, when he recognised him, Onions offered an apology. On inquiry it was found that Onions was spending a weekend in London without leave. He was court-martialled and cashiered.

Determined to "make good", Onions at once volunteered as a private in the Devonshire Regiment, and on arrival at the Devons' training depot he asked to be sent to France immediately. After firing a musketry course he was given embarkation leave, and on his return pleaded to be allowed to take the place of a man who was going overseas next day. The adjutant agreed, and on April 17 1917, he went to the Devons in France.

A month later he found himself in hospital at home. As soon as he was well again he pleaded to be sent back to France, and in March, 1918, he was once again with the 1st Devons. He was promoted lance-corporal, and on August 22, south of Achiet-le-Petit, his chance came.

In company with another man he was sent out to re-establish communication with a battalion on the right. In an old trench he saw a large force of Germans approaching. He placed his comrade on his exposed flank and opened rapid fire. They inflicted heavy losses on the Germans, and some threw up their hands. Corporal Onions called on them to surrender. No fewer than 200 Germans gave up, Opinions and his companion marching them back to headquarters.

For this, he received the Victoria Cross, but regretted that he was not restored to his former rank as officer.

When demobilised in March last, he gave up all hope of reinstatement, but since then his case has been considered by the Army Council, and Corporal Onions now states that he has been notified that he is to be "Gazetted" second lieutenant as an act of grace in recognition of valuable services.

He will relinquish the temporary commission on the same date, but will be granted permission to wear the uniform on appropriate military occasions. He was wounded several times on the day he won the Victoria Cross.

Interview with Mrs. Onions.

Mr. Onions, who resides at 15 Bideford Gardens, Monkseaton, is the representative on the North East Coast of Messrs. Bradley and Foster, iron masters, of Birmingham and Darlaston, his offices being at 24 Grainger Street West, Newcastle. It is exactly a year ago today, namely, Aug. 22 1918, that he won the Victoria Cross. A "Chronicle" representative saw Mrs. Onions at her home last night and she was considerably perturbed at the statement which had been made that her husband was court-martialled and cashiered on the occasion of his losing his rank as a Lieutenant. She stated that her husband was not court-martialled and the announcement in the Gazette was to the effect that he had been deprived of his commission for being absent without leave. Mr. Onions was away from home yesterday on business and his wife stated that, although the papers which had come to hand had been forwarded to him, she presumed that he had doubtless read the honour bestowed upon him by the King in the newspapers. Mrs. Onions stated that her husband joined the 3rd Hussars on the 5th Sept., 1914, and that whilst in France he was offered a commission. For that purpose he returned to England and was sent to a reserve Battalion of the Hussars in Newbridge in Ireland. It was while there that the Irish Rebellion broke, and he saw considerable service during the suppression of the rising. After the rebellion he went to a Cadet Corps and was eventually gazetted and attached to the Rifle Brigade. After losing his commission he joined the Devons and how he won the V.C. has already been recounted. He was decorated by the King at Buckingham Palace. He is a native of Bilston, Staffordshire, where he was born in 1883. His mother belonged to an old Devonshire family, being descended from the original John Ridd, immortalised in the famous novel "Lorna Doone". Mr. Onions' only brother Archie, who served with the 6th Dragoon Guards, won the D.C.M.

His name does not appear on any local north-east war memorial.