The Regiment is saddened by the passing of a noble Australian warrior and international strategist.
After graduating from RMC into the Signals Corps in 1958, Bob O’Neill gained an electronic engineering degree with first class honours at Melbourne University. At the same time he became the Australian Army’s first Rhodes Scholar to Oxford University where he studied politics, philosophy and economics.
On return to Australia, Bob transferred to Infantry and served in Vietnam with 5RAR in 1966-67 where he was Mentioned in Despatches for his service as the battalion intelligence officer. He authored the book Vietnam Task: The 5th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment 1966-67 (1968) and co-authored its Update in 2022
After promotion to major and serving as Instructor in Military History at RMC, Bob resigned from the Army to head the recently formed Strategic and Defence Studies Centre at the Australian National University. While there he wrote the Official History of Australia in the Korean War, published in two volumes in 1981 and 1985.
In 1982, Bob became Director of the International Institute of Strategic Studies in London. In 1987 he was appointed as Chichele Professor of War History at Oxford University, a position he held until retirement in 2001
See this tribute to Bob, published by The Strategist in 2016 Vale Robert O’Neill | The Strategist (aspistrategist.org.au)
The funeral service will be held at the Leura Memorial Gardens, at 11 am (NSW time) on May 3, 2023.
For those unable to attend the ceremony, it can be seen from your computer direct using this link https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89795761779?pwd=RzgxN2d3RXhoc2Q4dDZ1STVXUnpWUT09 or telephone in – find your local number here: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kbn3dqjNY1
The Zoom Meeting ID is 897 9576 1779 and the Passcode is 793084. The zoom room will open at 10.45 am local time
Our thoughts are with Sally and the O’Neill Family
Rest in Peace Bob your duty has been done.
