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
Private Alfred Eager McGill was 20 years of age when he enlisted the 18th AIF Battalion, part of the 5the Brigade, 2nd Australian Division on 29 May 1916 together with his brother Herbert John McGill, aged 22, both from Ashfield, NSW.
20th September 1917 was the first day of the Battle of the Menin Road, part of the Battle of Passchendaele ( also known as the Third Battle of Ypres).
The 5th Australian Brigade attacked at 05.40 a.m. with the 20th Battalion and 18th Battalion in support; the 17th and 26th Battalions were in reserve.
The attack went well, although the left of the 20th Battalion met some resistance from a line of old concrete artillery shelters, causing a slight hold up. They went on to the first objective, but whilst attempting to consolidate, came under fire from two pillboxes 200 yards away. To save further casualties, these were dealt with on the spot.
The 18th Battalion took over the attack on the Blue Line, taking Iron Cross Redoubt and Anzac House in its stride.It was then forced to take Garter Point to prevent sniping on troops consolidating the Blue Line.
The third objective, the Green Line, was assaulted by the 17th and 28th Battalions supported by the 26th Battalion, and was taken easily.
During these events, Alfred was severely wounded in action, a gunshot wound to the thorax, surviving 6 days in the 10th Casualty Clearing Station before he died of his wounds on the 26th September 1917, aged 21. He is buried in the Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, plot XXIII, row A, grave 16.
His brother Herbert John McGill continued to serve in the same Battalion but was badly wounded later during 1918. He survived the war, returning home to Australia in December 1918. Their younger brother James Edward McGill, serving with the 58th Battalion AIF, was mortally wounded in action on the 25th September 1917, and died the same day in the 3rd Canadian Casualty Clearing Station, 18 years old.
By sheer chance, the two casualty stations the brothers died in are quite near one another, and the brothers are both buried in plot XXIII of the Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery.
20th September 1917 was the first day of the Battle of the Menin Road, part of the Battle of Passchendaele ( also known as the Third Battle of Ypres).
The 5th Australian Brigade attacked at 05.40 a.m. with the 20th Battalion and 18th Battalion in support; the 17th and 26th Battalions were in reserve.
The attack went well, although the left of the 20th Battalion met some resistance from a line of old concrete artillery shelters, causing a slight hold up. They went on to the first objective, but whilst attempting to consolidate, came under fire from two pillboxes 200 yards away. To save further casualties, these were dealt with on the spot.
The 18th Battalion took over the attack on the Blue Line, taking Iron Cross Redoubt and Anzac House in its stride.It was then forced to take Garter Point to prevent sniping on troops consolidating the Blue Line.
The third objective, the Green Line, was assaulted by the 17th and 28th Battalions supported by the 26th Battalion, and was taken easily.
During these events, Alfred was severely wounded in action, a gunshot wound to the thorax, surviving 6 days in the 10th Casualty Clearing Station before he died of his wounds on the 26th September 1917, aged 21. He is buried in the Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, plot XXIII, row A, grave 16.
His brother Herbert John McGill continued to serve in the same Battalion but was badly wounded later during 1918. He survived the war, returning home to Australia in December 1918. Their younger brother James Edward McGill, serving with the 58th Battalion AIF, was mortally wounded in action on the 25th September 1917, and died the same day in the 3rd Canadian Casualty Clearing Station, 18 years old.
By sheer chance, the two casualty stations the brothers died in are quite near one another, and the brothers are both buried in plot XXIII of the Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery.
Connection to other soldiers 1
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James Edward McGill
Brother |
Sources 9
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"Passchendaele, The Day-by-Day Account",McCarthy C., Arms&ArmourPress, London, 1995, page 80-83" Sources used |
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CWGC https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/431465/alfred-eager-mcgill/ Sources used |
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Map="Passchendaele, The Day-by-Day Account",McCarthy C., Arms&ArmourPress, London, 1995, page 80" Sources used |
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Service Record https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=1944110 Sources used |
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The AIF Project https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=197800 Sources used |
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The Australian War Memorial https://www.awm.gov.au/advanced-search/people?people_preferred_name=McGill&people_service_number=5841&people_unit= Sources used |
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The Long Long Trail http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/order-of-battle-of-divisions/2nd-australian-division/ Sources used |
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War diary 18th Btln https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1355880 Sources used |
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War Diary 5th Brigade https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1347529 Sources used |