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Bill McCann

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Bill McCann
McCann as a captain in 1917–1918
Birth nameWilliam Francis James McCann
Nickname(s)Bill
Born(1892-04-19)19 April 1892
Glanville, South Australia
Died14 December 1957(1957-12-14) (aged 65)
Tusmore, South Australia
Buried
North Road Cemetery
AllegianceAustralia
Service/branchAustralian Army
Years of service1914–1919
1927–1935
RankLieutenant Colonel
Service number405
Commands10th Battalion (1919)
43rd Battalion (1927–1930)
Battles/warsFirst World War
AwardsCompanion of the Order of St Michael and St George
Distinguished Service Order
Officer of the Order of the British Empire
Military Cross & Bar
Mentioned in Despatches

Lieutenant Colonel William Francis James "Bill" McCann, CMG, DSO, OBE, MC & Bar, JP (19 April 1892 – 14 December 1957) was a decorated soldier in the South Australian-raised 10th Battalion of the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) during World War I, who became a barrister and was prominent in the military and ex-service community of South Australia during the interwar period. Born and raised in South Australia, he trained and worked as a teacher before the war. He enlisted in the AIF as a private in 1914, and rose through the ranks to be commissioned during the Gallipoli campaign of 1915. In 1916–1918 he fought on the Western Front in France and Belgium. For his gallantry during the war, he was made a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order and was twice awarded the Military Cross. After the war ended, he was appointed as the commanding officer of the 10th Battalion until its disbandment.

Following the war he became a barrister and formed a legal partnership with Victoria Cross recipient Arthur Blackburn. He was active in returned servicemen's organisations, serving as president of the South Australian branch of the Returned Sailors' and Soldiers' Imperial League from 1924 to 1931. He continued to serve in the part-time Citizen Military Forces after the war, reaching the rank of lieutenant colonel and commanding the 43rd Battalion in 1927–1930. He was appointed as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1935, and a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George in 1956. Both awards were for his services to the ex-service community.

Early life

William Francis James McCann was born at Glanville in Adelaide, South Australia on 19 April 1892, to South Australian Railways engine driver John Francis McCann and his wife Eliza, née Francis. He attended various public schools then Adelaide High School, and completed teacher training with the state Education Department in December 1913. He taught at Ethelton, Malvern and Glanville prior to the outbreak of World War I. His only pre-war military experience was four years in the volunteer cadets.[1][2][3]

World War I

Gallipoli campaign

McCann enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) on 24 August 1914 at Morphettville, South Australia. He was enlisted as a private in the South Australian-raised 10th Battalion of the 3rd Brigade, with the regimental number 405.[4][5] Within a week he had been promoted to sergeant.[6] The battalion embarked for overseas in October and sailed via Albany, Western Australia to Egypt, arriving in early December.[4] In Egypt he was appointed as a platoon sergeant in the battalion's D Company.[7] The 3rd Brigade was the covering force for the Landing at Anzac Cove, Gallipoli, on 25 April 1915 and so was the first brigade ashore about 4:30 am.[4] Four days later McCann was appointed as company sergeant major. Due to his outstanding service during the period 6 May to 28 June he was mentioned several times in Australian and New Zealand Army Corps routine orders.[1] He was commissioned in the rank of second lieutenant on 4 August and was promoted to lieutenant on 14 November. He remained at Anzac, serving as battalion intelligence and signalling officer, until the evacuation to Egypt in December.[7]

Western Front

As scouting, sniping and intelligence officer of his battalion, McCann shipped to France in late March 1916. After disembarking in Marseilles, he commanded a composite guard of honour drawn from the 9th and 10th Battalions. On 16 April 1916, he was promoted to captain and was appointed as second-in-command of A Company.[4][7] During the Battle of Pozières on 23 July, he was in command of the lead company of the battalion when it entered a hand grenade fight over the O.G.1 trench system in support of the 9th Battalion. The Australian Official War Historian, Charles Bean, described his actions as follows; "McCann, recognising that the enemy post must be seized, lined out in front of it in shell holes, the ten or twelve men who were with him. With bombs [hand grenades] they thoroughly subdued the German bombers, and smashed one machine gun – McCann's success in this bold movement being partly due to his having with him two old Gallipoli sergeants, G.D. Beames and L.C. Wickham. When bombs began to run out, McCann passed the word on to charge with the bayonet, and he was on the point of giving the word when he was hit in the head by a machine gun bullet."[7][8] According to McCann, his party was forced back due to the lack of grenades and the failure of other groups to keep in touch with his party.[9] The citation for his Military Cross read:[10][11][12][a]

For conspicuous gallantry in action. He led his company in the attack, bombing the enemy back, and, in spite of heavy casualties, pressed forward until severely wounded by a bomb.

McCann was the first member of the 10th Battalion to be awarded the Military Cross, and was also the first unit officer to receive an award in the field for any specific action.[13] The wound to his head had severely fractured his skull, but he remained at his post until he had reported the situation to the commanding officer of the 9th Battalion.[14] He was evacuated to hospital in England, and his award of the Military Cross was announced in the Adelaide Advertiser newspaper on 29 September along with a photograph and brief details of his service.[15] After he had recovered sufficiently, he attended an investiture at Buckingham Palace on 4 October where he received his Military Cross from King George V. On the same day, a fellow 10th Battalion officer, Arthur Blackburn, received his Victoria Cross for his actions at Pozières.[13][16] McCann was medically classified to be returned to Australia on a hospital ship, but avoided these orders and returned to his battalion in France in November. On his return, he was placed in command of B Company. In February 1917 he was evacuated suffering from illness, and after recovering was sent to a training school for a month. He rejoined the battalion in March.[13]

On the night of 8 April 1917, as the Battle of Arras began, the 10th Battalion attacked Louverval Wood, an outpost of the Hindenburg Line of German defences. McCann was wounded in the neck during the attack, and with a bandage around his neck and scarcely able to speak, remained with his troops for several hours, proving an inspiration to his company. Once the situation was clear, he reported for medical attention and was evacuated to hospital in England. After six weeks recuperating, McCann rejoined his unit at the end of May, assuming command of A Company.[1][13][17] He remained with the battalion throughout the Battle of Passchendaele in Flanders from July to November 1917, including the Battle of the Menin Road Ridge in September, before being seconded to a training battalion in the United Kingdom in late December. He returned to his battalion in June 1918. On 29 June, after the battalion had captured a section of the German line using "peaceful penetration" tactics, McCann's company was in the newly-won positions when the Germans counter-attacked and got between his advanced posts. He led his company signallers, messengers and reserve platoon forward into the gap. The Germans dropped their weapons, which included a machine gun, and ran.[18]

During the 10th Battalion's capture of Merris in July, his company's successful severing of the German lines of communication resulted in the award of a bar to his Military Cross.[13] The citation read:[12][19]

For conspicuous gallantry and fine leadership during an attack. He led one of the attacking companies with great dash, and helped very materially in the success of the operation. Wherever the situation was most critical he was to be found directing and encouraging his men, and his fine example inspired all under his command.

On 10 August, during early fighting of the Hundred Days Offensive which began on 8 August 1918 with the Battle of Amiens, the 10th Battalion was providing support to an attack led by the 9th Battalion which had suffered significant casualties as it attacked near Lihons. Unable to capture German positions in Crépey Wood, the 9th Battalion called on the 10th for assistance. As he commanded the strongest company of the 10th Battalion, McCann was sent forward. He led his A Company in clearing the wood, sustaining only 15 casualties in the fighting, and capturing 10 badly wounded Germans. Posts were established in the wood by both McCann's company and the 9th Battalion.[20] After a German barrage fell on the newly-won positions, McCann was visiting his posts along the northern edge of the wood when he saw 200–300 Germans attacking. This counter-attack overran one of the four A Company posts, and one isolated post withdrew. The German counter-attack also forced the withdrawal of the 9th Battalion from the eastern edge of the wood. The two remaining A Company posts continued fighting. One, manned by McCann, one other officer and seven men, fought the Germans for an hour, although the Germans got into the post three times, each time they were counter-attacked and drove them out. McCann and his party eventually drove them off, killing 90 of the enemy. McCann's company suffered 30 casualties in the fighting, but their efforts allowed the 9th Battalion to re-establish its posts along the eastern edge of the wood.[21][22] The next morning, McCann's company were subjected to a heavy gas bombardment in Crépey Wood, and he utilised three tanks to clear the area north of his positions. Another German counter-attack soon developed, and it was discovered that they had got behind the Australian positions. McCann was reinforced, then gathering troops from both his company and the 9th Battalion, moved forward and by "vigorous action and hard, confused fighting" he and others closed the gap in the front line.[23] McCann was later made a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order for his actions at Crépey Wood. The citation read:[12][24]

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty near Lihons on 10 August 1918. After the attack had failed at Crépey Wood, he successfully captured the position with his company in face of very heavy fire; and when the enemy in greatly superior numbers, counter-attacked, he held them off, personally killing many of the enemy and exposing himself freely until reinforcements enabled him to drive off the enemy and re-establish his original line. His courage and fine leadership prevented an important position falling into the hands of the enemy.

The 10th Battalion was back in action on 22–23 August as the Allied advance continued north of Proyart. The 10th Battalion was in a supporting role protecting the flank of the 1st Brigade. Upon learning of some difficulties due to German positions in Luc Wood, the commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Maurice Wilder-Neligan, immediately deployed McCann, commanding two companies, to clear the area. Along with flanking troops, McCann cleared the wood, capturing 15 prisoners and four machine guns. The advance was then able to continue.[25] McCann temporarily commanded the battalion for a week in late August, before being promoted to temporary major on 23 September. The battalion saw its last action of the war in late September. McCann again temporarily commanded the battalion for a week in early October, and was substantively promoted to major on 21 October. Shortly after this he attended a strategy and tactics course at the Staff College, Camberley, before returning to the battalion in November, when he was appointed as unit second-in-command. In early January 1919 he was appointed as commanding officer. He commanded the 10th Battalion until its disbandment in March; and was mentioned in Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig's final despatch. Also in March, he led a party of American delegates on a tour of the war zone. The following month, he led the 3rd Brigade contingent in the Anzac Day march through London. On 3 May he was invested with his Distinguished Service Order and Bar to his Military Cross at Buckingham Palace. Later that month he embarked for Australia, and arrived back in Adelaide the following month. He was admitted to Keswick Hospital on his return and was discharged from the AIF on 8 September 1919. Two of McCann's brothers also served in the AIF, with one being killed in action.[1][26]

Later life

McCann resigned from the Education Department in November 1919, having turned his hand to farming the previous month. He farmed at Truro and Manoora but was hampered by his war injuries, and abandoned farming in August the following year. While serving in the AIF he had been appointed an honorary major in the peacetime army, the Citizen Military Forces (CMF). He was substantively promoted to major in the CMF on 1 October 1920, but was on the officers' reserve list. McCann commenced studying as an articled clerk in December 1920, and married Mildred Southcott on 20 August 1921, there being two sons and one daughter from the union. In 1921 he commenced an active association with the South Australian branch of the Returned Sailors' and Soldiers' Imperial League of Australia (RSSILA), initially as a state vice-president.[1][27] In this capacity he was also a member of the Soldier's Children's Education Board.[28]

In March 1922 he began studying law at the University of Adelaide, and in 1924 he was elected president of the state branch of the RSSILA.[1][27] He was an early advocate for the building of the National War Memorial in Adelaide,[29] defended the status of Anzac Day as a public holiday against protests from the retail sector,[30] and represented the interests of soldier settlers.[31] He was admitted to the Bar on 25 July 1925, and went into partnership with Blackburn, forming the law firm Blackburn and McCann. In May 1927 he transferred from the officers' reserve list to the part-time 10th Battalion, and two months later was transferred to the part-time 43rd Battalion as its commanding officer, being promoted to lieutenant colonel in December.[1][27] In 1928, McCann was a foundation member of the Legacy Club of Adelaide, established to assist the dependents of deceased ex-servicemen.[32] When the National War Memorial design was being finalised, McCann strongly advocated for the inclusion of the names of all South Australians who were killed in World War I inside the memorial, and this was incorporated in the design.[33] At the 1928 national conference of the RSSILA, McCann sharply criticised the defence policy of the Federal Government.[34]

McCann was an active member of the Big Brother Movement in South Australia, which was involved supporting boys that had migrated to Australia from the United Kingdom under the Child Migrant scheme.[35] He commanded the 43rd Battalion until July 1930 when he transferred to the unattached list, and continued as president of the RSSILA until 1931,[1][27] leading the RSSILA delegation to the biennial conference of the British Empire Service League in London in 1929.[36] Upon his return from the conference and a tour of the former battlefields and war cemeteries, he offered his personal opinion that World War I had not been not worthwhile, as the tremendous loss had resulted in little gain.[37] This resulted in some public criticism by potential political opponents.[38]

McCann took a leave of absence from the state presidency of the RSSILA to unsuccessfully run for the Division of Boothby as a Nationalist candidate in the 1929 federal election. His campaign was supported by Senator Harold Edward Elliott, a Victorian who had commanded a brigade during World War I.[39] McCann received 19,675 votes, against the Australian Labor Party candidate, John Price, who received 24,641 votes.[40] He subsequently resigned as state president of the RSSILA, effective from before the election.[41] In 1930, McCann was nominated for the position of national president of the RSSILA, as part of a South Australian push for preference to continue to be given to returned servicemen in employment matters. In the event, the sitting president re-nominated and was narrowly re-elected with support from the state branches of Queensland, New South Wales and Tasmania.[42][43] In December 1930, McCann was again elected president of the state branch of the RSSILA,[44] although he retired from the post the following year.[45] In 1934, McCann was appointed as the chair of the state government Industrial Board, which was responsible for government employees engaged in construction.[46]

In early 1935, McCann was appointed to act in the place of Blackburn, who was now the city coroner, in his absence.[47] In the same year, McCann transferred back to the CMF officers' reserve,[1][27] and was also appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (Civil Division) for services to returned soldiers & sailors. He also unsuccessfully ran for election as the state president of the state branch of the RSSILA in the same year. Also in 1935, he became a justice of the peace, and was awarded the King George V Silver Jubilee Medal. In 1938, McCann successfully ran for election as a councillor in the City of Burnside,[48] and was also elected as a state vice-president of the RSSILA, continuing in this role until 1949.[49][50][51][52]

a colour photograph of a brown granite or marble headstone
McCann's grave at North Road Cemetery

From 1938 to 1954 he was the state prices commissioner and deputy Commonwealth prices commissioner. McCann briefly commanded a special constabulary of men over 45 during World War II – known as the South Australian Emergency National Defence League,[1] and was involved in the raising of the RSSILA Volunteer Defence Corps, the Australian equivalent of the British Home Guard.[53] In 1944, McCann was re-elected as a Burnside councillor, but resigned the following year.[54][55] In 1946, his inquiries as prices commissioner into black marketeering resulted in his home being deliberately burned down.[56] In the following year, he was elected as the first president of the Tenth Battalion AIF Association, which combined the old 10th Battalion Club and the World War II 2/10th Battalion Club.[57] His wife Mildred died in 1948. In 1956 he was appointed Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George for services to ex-servicemen. He died of coronary disease at Tusmore on 14 December 1957 and was buried at North Road Cemetery. He was described by his biographer as "an able speaker and a keen debater with a pleasant and tenacious personality".[1][58]

Notes

  1. ^ No source explains the discrepancy about what caused his head wound.

Footnotes

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Zwillenberg 1986.
  2. ^ Lock 1936, pp. 202–203.
  3. ^ National Archives 2017, p. 1.
  4. ^ a b c d Australian War Memorial 2017a.
  5. ^ National Archives 2017, p. 2.
  6. ^ National Archives 2017, p. 4.
  7. ^ a b c d Lock 1936, p. 203.
  8. ^ Bean 1941, pp. 510–511.
  9. ^ Bean 1941, p. 510.
  10. ^ Lock 1936, p. 256.
  11. ^ National Archives 2017, p. 7.
  12. ^ a b c Australian War Memorial 2017b.
  13. ^ a b c d e Lock 1936, p. 204.
  14. ^ Bean 1941, p. 511.
  15. ^ Advertiser & 29 September 1916.
  16. ^ The Register & 6 October 1916.
  17. ^ Bean 1937, pp. 234–235.
  18. ^ Bean 1942, pp. 404–407.
  19. ^ National Archives 2017, p. 6.
  20. ^ Bean 1942, pp. 662–663.
  21. ^ Lock 1936, pp. 91–92.
  22. ^ Bean 1942, pp. 666–667.
  23. ^ Bean 1942, pp. 673–675.
  24. ^ National Archives 2017, p. 8.
  25. ^ Bean 1942, pp. 752–753.
  26. ^ Lock 1936, pp. 202 & 205.
  27. ^ a b c d e Lock 1936, pp. 205–206.
  28. ^ The Register & 7 July 1923.
  29. ^ The Register & 13 February 1925.
  30. ^ The News & 2 April 1925.
  31. ^ The Chronicle & 24 September 1927.
  32. ^ The News & 23 January 1928.
  33. ^ The Register & 17 February 1928.
  34. ^ The Observer & 8 December 1928.
  35. ^ The News & 6 February 1929.
  36. ^ The Advertiser & 4 April 1929.
  37. ^ The News & 18 September 1929.
  38. ^ The News & 23 September 1929.
  39. ^ The Advertiser & 3 October 1929.
  40. ^ The News & 18 October 1929.
  41. ^ Murray Pioneer and Australian River Record & 27 December 1929.
  42. ^ South Australian Register & 2 August 1930.
  43. ^ The Advertiser & 11 November 1930.
  44. ^ The Advertiser & 13 December 1930.
  45. ^ The Advertiser & 12 December 1931.
  46. ^ The Advertiser & 11 May 1934.
  47. ^ The News & 18 January 1935.
  48. ^ The Advertiser & 13 June 1938.
  49. ^ The Advertiser & 10 December 1938.
  50. ^ The Advertiser & 15 December 1939.
  51. ^ The Advertiser & 13 December 1941.
  52. ^ The Border Watch & 18 December 1945.
  53. ^ The Advertiser & 17 June 1940.
  54. ^ The News & 6 May 1944.
  55. ^ The Advertiser & 14 June 1945.
  56. ^ The News & 15 July 1946.
  57. ^ The Advertiser & 17 April 1947.
  58. ^ Lock 1936, pp. 206–207.

References

Books

  • Bean, C.E.W. (1941). The Australian Imperial Force in France, 1916. Official History of Australia in the War of 1914–1918. Vol. 3 (12 ed.). Sydney, New South Wales: Angus & Robertson. OCLC 220898466. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • Bean, C.E.W. (1937). The Australian Imperial Force in France, 1917. Official History of Australia in the War of 1914–1918. Vol. 4 (5 ed.). Sydney, New South Wales: Angus & Robertson. OCLC 216975066. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • Bean, C.E.W. (1942). The Australian Imperial Force in France: May 1918 – The Armistice. Official History of Australia in the War of 1914–1918. Vol. 6 (1 ed.). Sydney, New South Wales: Angus & Robertson. OCLC 830564565. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • Lock, Cecil (1936). The Fighting 10th: A South Australian Centenary Souvenir of the 10th Battalion, A.I.F. 1914–19. Adelaide, South Australia: Webb & Son. OCLC 220051389. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)

Newspapers

Websites

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