Bill McCann

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Bill McCann
Lieutenant Colonel
Service number405
Commands
(1927–1930)
Battles / wars
Awards
  • Mentioned in Despatches

OBE, MC & Bar, JP (19 April 1892 – 14 December 1957) was an Australian soldier of World War I, a barrister, and a prominent figure in the military and ex-service community of South Australia during the interwar period. Born and raised in Adelaide, he worked as a teacher before the war. He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force 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, was wounded twice, and rose to the rank of major. For his gallantry during the war, he was made a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order and twice awarded the Military Cross. After the war, he served as commanding officer of the 10th Battalion
until its disbandment in 1919.

Returning home, McCann became a barrister and formed a legal partnership with

Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George
in 1956.

Early life

William Francis James McCann was born at

Education Department in December 1913. He taught in Ethelton, Malvern and Glanville prior to the outbreak of World War I. His pre-war military experience consisted of four years in the volunteer cadets while he was at school and participating in the University of Adelaide Rifle Club during his teacher training.[1][2][3]

World War I

Gallipoli campaign

McCann enlisted in the

counter-attack against the landing force, after which it settled into a routine of rotating through various positions in the line.[8] His outstanding service during the period 6 May to 28 June gained McCann several mentions in Australian and New Zealand Army Corps routine orders.[1] In July, McCann and most of the battalion had a three-day rest on the island of Imbros, but were quickly back in the trenches at Anzac.[9] McCann was commissioned a second lieutenant on 4 August,[1] by which time nearly half of the battalion had been evacuated sick with dysentery.[10] He was promoted to lieutenant on 14 November. McCann remained at Anzac, serving as battalion intelligence and signalling officer until the unit was withdrawn to the island of Lemnos in late November, followed by evacuation to Egypt the following month.[11]

Western Front

When the bulk of the AIF was transferred to the

hand grenade) fight over the O. G. 1 trench system in support of the 9th Battalion.[a] The Australian Official War Historian, Charles Bean, described his actions as follows:[7][13]

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 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.

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.[14] The citation for his Military Cross, awarded for his actions at Pozières, read; "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."[15][16][17][b]

a group of four males in uniform walking along a street
McCann (right) and Blackburn (second from left) after receiving their awards at Buckingham Palace

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.

Advertiser newspaper on 29 September along with a photograph and brief details of his service.[20] After he had recovered sufficiently, he attended an investiture at Buckingham Palace on 4 October to receive his Military Cross from King George V. The same day, a fellow 10th Battalion officer, Arthur Blackburn, received his Victoria Cross for his own actions at Pozières that closely followed those of McCann.[18][21] McCann was medically classified to be repatriated to Australia on a hospital ship, but ignored these orders and returned to his battalion in France in November. On arrival, he was placed in command of B Company. Suffering from illness, he was evacuated in February 1917, and after recovering was sent to a training school for a month. He rejoined the battalion in March.[18]

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 after having it bandaged and being scarcely able to speak, remained with his troops for several hours, and according to the Australian Dictionary of Biography, "was an inspiration to his men".[1] 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][18][22] 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.[23]

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 McCann's Military Cross.[18] The citation read:[17][24]

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.

a black and white photograph of a trench with troops in it
Troops of the 10th Battalion in a trench near Crépey Wood (in the background)

On 10 August, during early fighting in the Hundred Days Offensive, which began on 8 August 1918 with the Battle of Amiens, the 10th Battalion was tasked with 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 McCann commanded the strongest company of the 10th Battalion, he was sent forward. He led A Company in clearing the wood, his sub-unit sustaining only 15 casualties in the fighting, and capturing 10 badly wounded Germans. The 9th Battalion and McCann's company established posts in the wood.[25] 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 to 300 Germans approaching to attack. 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. The Germans got into the post three times, and each time the Australians forced 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.[26][27] The next morning, McCann's company was subjected to a heavy gas bombardment in Crépey Wood, and he was allocated three tanks of the 5th Tank Brigade to clear the area north of his positions. Another German counter-attack developed, and the enemy got behind the Australian positions. McCann was reinforced; then, gathering troops from both his company and the 9th Battalion and moving forward by "vigorous action and hard, confused fighting", he and others closed the gap in the front line.[28] For his actions at Crépey Wood, McCann was later made a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order, the second highest award for acts of gallantry by officers. The citation read:[17][29]

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

Sir Douglas Haig's final despatch of 16 March 1919. Also in March, McCann led a party of American delegates on a tour of the war zone and, the following month, headed the 3rd Brigade contingent in the Anzac Day march through London. On 3 May he was invested with his Distinguished Service Order and the bar to his Military Cross at Buckingham Palace. Later that month he embarked for Australia, arriving in Adelaide in June. He was admitted to Keswick Repatriation General Hospital on his return, and was discharged from the AIF on 8 September 1919. Two of McCann's brothers also served in the AIF, and one was killed in action.[1][31] McCann was issued with the 1914–15 Star, British War Medal, and Victory Medal for his service during the war.[32]

Interbellum and later life

McCann resigned from the Education Department in November 1919, having turned his hand to agriculture the previous month. He farmed at

Returned Sailors' and Soldiers' Imperial League of Australia (RSSILA), initially as a state vice-president.[1][34] In this capacity he was also a member of the Soldier's Children's Education Board.[35]

In March 1922, McCann began studying law at the University of Adelaide. He was elected president of the state branch of the RSSILA in 1924.

soldier settlers.[38] He was admitted to the Bar on 25 July 1925, and went into partnership with Arthur Blackburn, forming the law firm Blackburn and McCann. On 19 May 1927, he transferred from the Reserve of Officers List to the part-time 10th Battalion, and on 1 July was transferred to the part-time 43rd Battalion as its commanding officer, gaining promotion to lieutenant colonel on 1 December.[1][34] In 1928, McCann was a foundation member of the Legacy Club of Adelaide, established to assist the dependents of deceased ex-servicemen.[39] When the National War Memorial design was being finalised, McCann strongly supported including the names of all South Australians who were killed in World War I; his suggestion was incorporated in the design.[40] At the 1928 national conference of the RSSILA, McCann sharply criticised the defence policy of the Federal Government, particularly funding provided; "[d]efence has been brought down to such a low point", he said, "that it is now an absurdity."[41]

McCann was an active member of the Big Brother Movement in South Australia; this involved supporting boys that had migrated to Australia from the United Kingdom under the Child Migrant scheme.[42] He commanded the 43rd Battalion until July 1930 when he transferred to the Unattached List,[d] and continued as president of the RSSILA until 1931,[1][34] leading the RSSILA delegation to the biennial conference of the British Empire Service League in London in 1929.[43] Returning from the conference and a tour of the former battlefields and war cemeteries, McCann contended that World War I had not been worthwhile, as tremendous loss had produced little gain,[44] a stance that led to public criticism.[45][46]

McCann took a leave of absence from the state presidency of the RSSILA to unsuccessfully run for the extremely

Victorian who had first met then-Sergeant McCann during the Gallipoli campaign and had been so impressed with him that he had offered McCann a commission in his battalion.[47] McCann received 19,675 votes, comprising some 44.4 per cent of the tally, against the Australian Labor Party incumbent, John Price, who received 24,641 votes, or 55.6 per cent.[49] McCann's defeat was part of a nationwide swing to the Labor Party that saw the Nationalist–Country coalition government lose office.[50] He subsequently resigned as state president of the RSSILA, effective from before the election.[51]

a black and white photograph of a group of people
McCann (left) receiving a cheque for the Fighting Forces Comfort Fund in 1940

In 1930, McCann was nominated for the position of national president of the RSSILA, as part of a South Australian push for preference for returned servicemen in employment matters. In the event, the sitting president was re-nominated and narrowly re-elected with support from the state branches of Queensland, New South Wales and Tasmania, and a casting vote by the returning officer.[52][53] In December 1930, McCann was again elected president of the state branch of the RSSILA,[54] but retired from the post the following year.[55] In 1934, McCann was appointed as the chair of the state government Industrial Board, which was responsible for government employees engaged in construction.[56]

In early 1935, McCann was appointed to act in the place of Blackburn, who was now the city

Officer of the Order of the British Empire (Civil Division) for services to returned soldiers and sailors. He also ran unsuccessfully for election as the president of the state branch of the RSSILA, 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,[58] and was re-elected as a state vice-president of the RSSILA, continuing in this role until 1949.[59][60][61][62]

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. Following the outbreak of World War II, McCann briefly commanded a special constabulary of men over 45 – known as the South Australian Emergency National Defence League

coronary disease at Tusmore on 14 December 1957 and was buried at North Road Cemetery. The Australian Dictionary of Biography described him as "an able speaker and a keen debater with a pleasant and tenacious personality".[1][70]

Notes

  1. ^ The O. G.  (Old German) trench system consisted of two lines of German trenches that were objectives of the Australian assault.[12]
  2. ^ None of the cited sources explain the discrepancy about what caused his head wound.
  3. ^ The Reserve of Officers List was part of the reserve element of the CMF.[33]
  4. ^ The Unattached List was part of the Active Forces of the CMF.[33]

Footnotes

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n 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 Lock 1936, p. 203.
  8. ^ Lock 1936, pp. 44–49.
  9. ^ Lock 1936, p. 49.
  10. ^ Lock 1936, p. 51.
  11. ^ Lock 1936, pp. 53 & 203.
  12. ^ Wray 2015, p. 22.
  13. ^ Bean 1941, pp. 510–511.
  14. ^ Bean 1941, p. 510.
  15. ^ Lock 1936, p. 256.
  16. ^ National Archives 2017, p. 7.
  17. ^ a b c Australian War Memorial 2017b.
  18. ^ a b c d e Lock 1936, p. 204.
  19. ^ Bean 1941, p. 511.
  20. ^ The Advertiser 29 September 1916.
  21. ^ The Register 6 October 1916.
  22. ^ Bean 1937, pp. 234–235.
  23. ^ Bean 1942, pp. 404–407.
  24. ^ National Archives 2017, p. 6.
  25. ^ Bean 1942, pp. 662–663.
  26. ^ Lock 1936, pp. 91–92.
  27. ^ Bean 1942, pp. 666–667.
  28. ^ Bean 1942, pp. 668, 673–675.
  29. ^ National Archives 2017, p. 8.
  30. ^ Bean 1942, pp. 752–753.
  31. ^ Lock 1936, pp. 202 & 205.
  32. ^ National Archives 2017, p. 45.
  33. ^ a b Defence Act 1909.
  34. ^ a b c d e Lock 1936, pp. 205–206.
  35. ^ The Register 7 July 1923.
  36. ^ The Register 13 February 1925.
  37. ^ The News 2 April 1925.
  38. ^ The Chronicle 24 September 1927.
  39. ^ The News 23 January 1928.
  40. ^ The Register 17 February 1928.
  41. ^ The Observer 8 December 1928.
  42. ^ The News 6 February 1929.
  43. ^ The Advertiser 4 April 1929.
  44. ^ The News 18 September 1929.
  45. ^ The News 23 September 1929.
  46. ^ The News 25 September 1929.
  47. ^ a b The Advertiser 3 October 1929.
  48. ^ The South Eastern Times 20 September 1929.
  49. ^ The News 18 October 1929.
  50. ^ The Chronicle 17 October 1929.
  51. ^ Murray Pioneer and Australian River Record 27 December 1929.
  52. ^ South Australian Register 2 August 1930.
  53. ^ The Advertiser 11 November 1930.
  54. ^ The Advertiser 13 December 1930.
  55. ^ The Advertiser 12 December 1931.
  56. ^ The Advertiser 11 May 1934.
  57. ^ The News 18 January 1935.
  58. ^ The Advertiser 13 June 1938.
  59. ^ The Advertiser 10 December 1938.
  60. ^ The Advertiser 15 December 1939.
  61. ^ The Advertiser 13 December 1941.
  62. ^ The Border Watch 18 December 1945.
  63. ^ The Advertiser 17 June 1940.
  64. ^ The Advertiser 17 July 1940.
  65. ^ The News 6 May 1944.
  66. ^ The Advertiser 14 June 1945.
  67. ^ The News 15 July 1946.
  68. ^ The Barrier Miner 21 November 1946.
  69. ^ The Advertiser 17 April 1947.
  70. ^ Lock 1936, pp. 206–207.

References

Books

Newspapers

Laws

  • Defence Act 1909 (Act 15, Section 6). 13 December 1909.

Websites

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