MANY families have their history entrenched in our area, but few roots run as deep as those of Peter O’Neill.
The 38-year-old works for Merseyside Army Cadet Force and is at least the fifth generation to work at Altcar Training Camp.
Indeed, the camp was also home to many of his forefathers, who lived in cottages on site while the men tended the ranges and the women helped in the messes. Their history stretches to the early days of the range in 1860, with the second known generation, Tom Mawdsley, mentioned in connection with an incident in 1906.
But it was Peter’s great-great-uncle, Robert (Bob) Wilson, who started the chain and became best known.
Sadly, this was for the nature of his demise – after being hit by a ricochet on C range in 1914, he became Altcar’s only fatality.
Bob and his wife lived at 2 Grange Cottage and his work was taken over by son-in-law Thomas Mawdsley, who lived with his wife Phoebe in the old lighthouse that stood on the Altcar estate, and later on site.
As chief warden, Tom looked after the range and accommodation in camp. He was presented with a telescope by rifle club president Captain Robert Gladstone, great-nephew of the Prime Minister, which has passed down the family to Peter.
Peter’s grandad John Wilson Mawdsley (Jack) was born at Bridge Cottage, then moved to Grange Cottage at two or three years old.
He was involved with the ranges from school days, when he acted as a marker for people shooting in the butts, and only left the site when he was called up.
Jack progressed to become chief range warden and railway crossing keeper, manning the entry point at Cleaver cottages, while his wife, Elsie, helped out in the Red Rose and old YMCA canteen in B Camp.
Jack was presented to the Queen when she visited Altcar in 1985 to inspect the Duke of Lancaster’s Own Yeomanry, and was delighted when she asked him about the unfortunate fate of his Uncle Robert.
He also oversaw the arrival of the first electric target ranges in the 1970s.
The family moved to Cambrian cottage and lived there until Jack went into a nursing home in 2000.
Elsie and Jack’s daughter Pat, Peter’s mum, also lived on site and helped out with the messes.
She married railwayman Terry O’Neill who worked at Hightown and Ainsdale until national service led him into the Royal Marines and later the Royal Marine Reserves.
Peter started as a range warden in 1989 and became a moving machine target trainer before leaving for six months in 1999.
He returned as Senior Supervisor on Main Camp, looking after accommodation for five years, then in 2005 moved to Merseyside Army Cadet Force where he is currently Cadet Administrative Assistant, living on Salford Road in Ainsdale.
Peter said: “When I was offered the job it seemed like a natural progression to follow the family line. I felt maybe fate had thrown it my way.”

• Post to:
•  del.icio.us
•  Digg
•  Newsvine
•  Nowpublic
•  Reddit