Pte
James Edward McGill
Information about birth
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Year of birth: 1899 |
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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: Clerk |
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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: 2934 |
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Enlistment date: 04/09/1916 |
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Enlistment place: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
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Units: — Australian Infantry, 58th Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 25/09/1917 |
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Place of death: Lijssenthoek, Remy Siding, No. 3 Canadian Casualty Clearing Station, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Died of wounds (D.O.W.) |
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Age: 18 |
Cemetery
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Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery Plot: XXIII Row: C Grave: 18 |
Distinctions and medals 2
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 5
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Last known residence | ||
| #3 | Enlistment place | ||
| #4 | Place of wounding | ||
| #5 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
James Edward McGill was the son of Arthur and Margaret McGill. He was born around 1899 in Sydney, New South Wales. James lived in Ashfield and worked as a clerk. On 4 September 1916, at the age of 18, he enlisted in the Australian Army. James joined the 58th Battalion (7th Brigade, 2nd Division). His older brothers, Alfred Eager and Herbert John both enlisted already in May 1916 and were with the 18th Battalion (15th Brigade, 5th Division).
James was wounded on 25 September 1917, the day before the Battle of Polygon Wood, part of the Battle of Passchendaele. The 15th Brigade, to which the 58th Battalion belonged, was at that time between Nonne Wood, Glencorse Wood and Polygon Wood. At 5.15am, German artillery fire suddenly intensified on the right flank of the 15th Brigade and in the area of the British 33rd Division, which was as far as the Menin Road. German infantry followed in the wake of the barrage. In the area of the 15th Brigade, the German attack was repulsed, but the 33rd Division suffered a loss of ground. The Middlesex Regiment (98th Brigade), positioned between Black Watch Corner and Carlisle Farm was pushed back some 450m. This left the right flank of the 15th Brigade vulnerable. The 58th Battalion was sent out to reinforce the 33rd Division. Later, the 58th Battalion also received support from the 60th Battalion to secure positions on this flank. In the afternoon, the German troops were pushed back towards Cameron House (along what is now Oude Kortrijkstraat). German snipers remained active for the rest of the day, and artillery fire also continued intermittently. The 58th Battalion suffered very heavy casualties and was withdrawn. The 60th Battalion remained on the ground and was supported by the 57th Battalion after the 58th Battalion had been relieved.
When and how James was wounded during this attack is unclear. On 20 September, he was evacuated by the 6th Australian Field Ambulance with cuts to his head, face, right ear and left foot. He was taken to Canadian Casualty Clearing Station No. 3, located on what is now Frans-Vlaanderenweg. His brother Alfred was also at that time in nearby Casualty Clearing Station No. 10 with a gunshot wound to the chest that he had received on 20 September. James' stay in the hospital was short. He died of his injuries that same day, 25 September. His brother Alfred also died of his wounds the following day, on 26 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 in the same plot, row C. Their other brother Herbert John survived the war and left the battlefields in December 1918.
James was wounded on 25 September 1917, the day before the Battle of Polygon Wood, part of the Battle of Passchendaele. The 15th Brigade, to which the 58th Battalion belonged, was at that time between Nonne Wood, Glencorse Wood and Polygon Wood. At 5.15am, German artillery fire suddenly intensified on the right flank of the 15th Brigade and in the area of the British 33rd Division, which was as far as the Menin Road. German infantry followed in the wake of the barrage. In the area of the 15th Brigade, the German attack was repulsed, but the 33rd Division suffered a loss of ground. The Middlesex Regiment (98th Brigade), positioned between Black Watch Corner and Carlisle Farm was pushed back some 450m. This left the right flank of the 15th Brigade vulnerable. The 58th Battalion was sent out to reinforce the 33rd Division. Later, the 58th Battalion also received support from the 60th Battalion to secure positions on this flank. In the afternoon, the German troops were pushed back towards Cameron House (along what is now Oude Kortrijkstraat). German snipers remained active for the rest of the day, and artillery fire also continued intermittently. The 58th Battalion suffered very heavy casualties and was withdrawn. The 60th Battalion remained on the ground and was supported by the 57th Battalion after the 58th Battalion had been relieved.
When and how James was wounded during this attack is unclear. On 20 September, he was evacuated by the 6th Australian Field Ambulance with cuts to his head, face, right ear and left foot. He was taken to Canadian Casualty Clearing Station No. 3, located on what is now Frans-Vlaanderenweg. His brother Alfred was also at that time in nearby Casualty Clearing Station No. 10 with a gunshot wound to the chest that he had received on 20 September. James' stay in the hospital was short. He died of his injuries that same day, 25 September. His brother Alfred also died of his wounds the following day, on 26 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 in the same plot, row C. Their other brother Herbert John survived the war and left the battlefields in December 1918.
Connection to other soldiers 1
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Alfred Eager McGill
Brother |
Sources 7
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15th Brigade Australian Infantry, (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), AWM4 23/15/19). https://www.awm.gov.au/ Sources used |
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58th Australian Infantry Battalion, (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), AWM4 23/75/20). https://www.awm.gov.au/ Sources used |
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Capt. Ellis, A.D. The Story of the Fifth Australian Division (Londen: Hodder and Stoughton Ltd), 240-241. Sources used |
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First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920 (National Archives of Australia, Canberra (NAA), B2455, MCGILL J E). https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=1944138 Sources used |
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McCarthy, Chris. Passchendaele: The Day by Day Account (Londen: Arms & Armour Press, 1995), 90. 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/431466 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=d28081b0-be4f-449a-890d-75360283bb3a |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/7308259 |
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The AIF Project (UNSW Canberra) https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=197824 |