O'CARROLL, PATRICK JOSEPH FELIX VALENTINE O'NEILL was born at Castlepollard, County Westmeath, Ireland, and educated at St Vincent's College, Castleknock; St Stanislaus College, Rahan; and Dublin University. He studied medicine at the St Cecilia School, the Royal College of Surgeons and the Royal College of Physicians, Dublin. In 1862 he came to Melbourne as surgeon in the Queen of the South. Next year he was medical superintendent of the Star of India, which brought the Australian military settlers to Auckland. He was appointed assistant-surgeon in the militia and was later, at his own request, transferred to the Waikato militia, then to Colonel Lyon's force, with which he saw a great deal of service. In 1863 he was present at the capture of Jonathan's pa and in November he was sent to bring the wounded back from Rangiriri to Auckland and to take charge of native prisoners. For gallantry during a seven days' siege he was promoted captain. He was at the Gate Pa (April 1864) in charge of the ambulance and afterwards attached to the Arawa contingents operating on the East Coast after the murder of Volkner (1865). Towards the end of the year he was ordered to Taranaki and attached to the mounted corps, with which he marched to meet General Chute's force from the south (January 1866). He then settled in Taranaki, where his skill as a surgeon, his generosity and fine human qualities earned him the confidence of the public.

At the time of the White Cliffs massacre (1869) O'Carroll again took the field. In 1874 he was transferred to the Armed Constabulary. In 1881 he accompanied the Parihaka force. In 1891 he was promoted brigadier-surgeon. He married Alice, daughter of Octavius Carrington. From 1880 to 1896 he was associated with the New Plymouth hospital as surgeon and later as medical superintendent. On retiring he returned to Ireland.

Cycl. N.Z., vi; Skinner (P)

Reference: Volume 2, page 69

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