Geboortejaar: 1899

Geboorteplaats: Sydney, New South Wales, Australië

Laatst gekende woonplaats: Ashfield, New South Wales, Australië

Beroep: Klerk - Bediende

Geloof: Congregationalist

Land: Australië

Strijdmacht: Australian Imperial Force

Rang: Private

Service nummer: 2934

Dienstneming datum: 04/09/1916

Dienstneming plaats: Sydney, New South Wales, Australië

Eenheden:  —  Australian Infantry, 58th Bn.  (Laatst gekende eenheid)

Datum van overlijden: 25/09/1917

Plaats van overlijden: Lijssenthoek, Remy Siding, No. 3 Canadian Casualty Clearing Station, België

Doodsoorzaak: Died of wounds (D.O.W.)

Leeftijd: 18

British War Medal Medaille

Victory Medal Medaille

Private James Edward McGill, only 17 of age, enlisted the 58th Battalion AIF, part of the 15th Brigade, 5th Australian Division, just before his 2 older brothers Alfred and Herbert McGill embarked for Europe.
The former clerck was born in Sydney and lived with brothers and sisters in Ashfield, NSW. Just before dawn on the 25th of September 1917 a tremendous concentration of German artillery fire fell across the right of the 15th Brigade sector and over the entire front of the 33rd British Division on its right.
This was followed between 5.30 a.m. and 6 a.m. with heavy infantry attacks in mass, by special storm troops of picked German divisions. Despite heavy casualties from the artillery preparation, the 58th Battalion stood firm. This was due largely to the fine heroism and determination of the front line men. Two platoons from the 58th Battalion’s front line had to be withdrawn to man the Battalion’s right flank, which became more and more exposed as the German penetrations on the front of the 33rd Division deepened.
During all this time, the bombardment of Glencorse Wood was terrific. Towards evening it became advisable to withdraw the badly shattered 58th Battalion to a position in close support.
Private James Edward McGill, was mortally wounded in action on this 25 September 1917, with multiple shrapnel wounds to the head and face, and died of wounds the same day in the 3rd Canadian Casualty Clearing Station. He was only born in 1899 and was probably not quite 18 years of age when he died. He is buried in the Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, plot XXIII, row C, grave 18. His older brother Alfred Eager McGill, of the 18th Battalion AIF, was severely wounded and survived 6 days in the 10th Casualty Clearing Station before he died on 26th September 1917.
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. His other brother Herbert John McGill continued to serve in the 18th Battalion but was badly wounded later during 1918. He survived the war, returning home to Australia in December 1918

Alfred Eager McGill  Brother

"The Story of the Fifth Australian Division", Capt. Ellis A.D., Hodder and Stoughton Ltd, London, page 240-241 Gebruikte bronnen

CWGC https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/431466/james-edward-mcgill/ Gebruikte bronnen

Map="The Story of the Fifth Australian Division", Capt. Ellis A.D., Hodder and Stoughton Ltd, London, page 232 Gebruikte bronnen

Service Record https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=1944138 Gebruikte bronnen

The AIF Project https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=197824 Gebruikte bronnen

The Australian War Memorial https://www.awm.gov.au/advanced-search/people?people_preferred_name=McGill&people_service_number=2934&people_unit= Gebruikte bronnen

The Long Long Trail http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/order-of-battle-of-divisions/5th-australian-division/ Gebruikte bronnen

War Diary https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1357072 Gebruikte bronnen