Pte
Alfred Eager McGill
Information about birth
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Year of birth: 1896 |
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Place of birth: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
General information
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Last known residence: Ashfield, New South Wales, Australia |
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Profession: Driver |
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Religion: Congregationalist |
Army information
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Country: Australia |
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Force: Australian Imperial Force |
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Rank: Private |
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Service number: 5841 |
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Enlistment date: 29/05/1916 |
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Enlistment place: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
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Units: — Australian Infantry, 18th Bn. (New South Wales) (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 26/09/1917 |
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Place of death: Lijssenthoek, Remy Siding, No. 10 Casualty Clearing Station, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Died of wounds (D.O.W.) |
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Age: 21 |
Cemetery
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Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery Plot: XXIII Row: A Grave: 16 |
Distinctions and medals 2
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 4
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Last known residence | ||
| #3 | Enlistment place | ||
| #4 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Alfred Eager McGill was the son of Arthur and Margaret McGill. He was born around 1896 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Alfred lived in Ashfield and worked as a driver. Before World War I, he had already served 2 years in the militia. On 29 May 1916, at the age of 20, he enlisted in the Australian Army along with his brother Herbert John McGill, who was 2 years older. Alfred and Herbert joined the 18th Battalion (5th Brigade, 2nd Division). Their younger brother James Edward also enlisted on 4 September 1916. He was with the 58th Battalion (7th Brigade, 2nd Division).
Alfred was wounded on 20 September 1917 during the first day of the Battle of Menin Road, part of the Battle of Passchendaele. The starting point was at Westhoek Ridge. The 5th Brigade attacked with the 20th Battalion, supported by the 18th Battalion and with the 17th and 26th Battalions as reserves. At about 5.37am, before zero hour, the German troops opened a barrage on Westhoek Ridge. Minutes later, the Allied barrage began and the attack started. The first objective, located between Hanebeek and Anzac House, was taken by the 20th Battalion. The 18th Battalion, of which Alfred was a member, resumed the attack and took the line between Anzac and Iron Cross Redoubt, the second objective. They also had to take Garter Point which was a little further away to avoid shelling as they consolidated the objective. Finally, the 17th Battalion managed to take the final objective, which ran from Garter Point to just before Albania Woods. German counterattacks were repulsed by Allied artillery fire. German aircraft were also very active.
When and how Alfred was wounded during the attack is unclear. On 20 September, he was evacuated by the 6th Australian Field Ambulance with a gunshot wound to his chest. The next day, on 21 September, he was transferred to the 10th Casualty Clearing Station which was located on what is now the Frans-Vlaanderenweg. James was also wounded on 25 September and was transferred to the Canadian Casualty Clearing Station No. 3, near the hospital where his brother was staying. Alfred died at the Casualty Clearing Station on 26 September from wounds received on 20 September. James also died of his wounds on 25 September. Both brothers were buried in the nearby cemetery, Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery. Alfred's grave is the 16th stone in plot XXIII, row A. James lies in grave 18 of the same plot, row C. Herbert John survived the war and left the battlefields in December 1918.
Alfred was wounded on 20 September 1917 during the first day of the Battle of Menin Road, part of the Battle of Passchendaele. The starting point was at Westhoek Ridge. The 5th Brigade attacked with the 20th Battalion, supported by the 18th Battalion and with the 17th and 26th Battalions as reserves. At about 5.37am, before zero hour, the German troops opened a barrage on Westhoek Ridge. Minutes later, the Allied barrage began and the attack started. The first objective, located between Hanebeek and Anzac House, was taken by the 20th Battalion. The 18th Battalion, of which Alfred was a member, resumed the attack and took the line between Anzac and Iron Cross Redoubt, the second objective. They also had to take Garter Point which was a little further away to avoid shelling as they consolidated the objective. Finally, the 17th Battalion managed to take the final objective, which ran from Garter Point to just before Albania Woods. German counterattacks were repulsed by Allied artillery fire. German aircraft were also very active.
When and how Alfred was wounded during the attack is unclear. On 20 September, he was evacuated by the 6th Australian Field Ambulance with a gunshot wound to his chest. The next day, on 21 September, he was transferred to the 10th Casualty Clearing Station which was located on what is now the Frans-Vlaanderenweg. James was also wounded on 25 September and was transferred to the Canadian Casualty Clearing Station No. 3, near the hospital where his brother was staying. Alfred died at the Casualty Clearing Station on 26 September from wounds received on 20 September. James also died of his wounds on 25 September. Both brothers were buried in the nearby cemetery, Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery. Alfred's grave is the 16th stone in plot XXIII, row A. James lies in grave 18 of the same plot, row C. Herbert John survived the war and left the battlefields in December 1918.
Connection to other soldiers 1
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James Edward McGill
Brother |
Sources 6
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18th Battalion Australian Infantry New South Wales, (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), AWM4 23/35/26). https://www.awm.gov.au/ Sources used |
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5th Brigade Australian Infantry, (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), AWM4 23/5/27). https://www.awm.gov.au/ Sources used |
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First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920 (National Archives of Australia, Canberra (NAA), B2455, MCGILL A E). https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=1944110 Sources used |
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McCarthy, Chris. Passchendaele: The Day by Day Account (Londen: Arms & Armour Press, 1995), 80 - 83. Sources used |
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Roll Of Honour (Austarlian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), RCDIG1068880). https://www.awm.gov.au/ Sources used |
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Unit embarkation nominal rolls, 1914-18 War (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), AWM8). https://www.awm.gov.au/ Sources used |
More information 4
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/431465 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=9739be04-bb3b-4254-a58f-cae24ba0237a |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/7308233 |
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The AIF Project (UNSW Canberra) https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=197800 |