Bill McCann
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant-Colonel William Francis James "Bill" McCann CMG
, OBE
, DSO
, MC & Bar
(19 April 1892 – 14 December 1957) was an Australian soldier and barrister.
McCann was born at Glanville
in Adelaide to engine driver John Francis McCann and Eliza, née Francis. He attended Adelaide High School
and became a teacher in 1913, working at Ethelton
, Malvern
and Glanville. At the outbreak of World War I
he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force
's 10th Battalion and by the time he embarked in October had been promoted sergeant
. On 25 April 1915
he landed at Gallipoli
and received several mentions for outstanding service in routine orders. Promoted second lieutenant
on 4 August and full lieutenant
on 14 November, he served in Gallipoli until he was transferred to the Western Front
in early 1916.
McCann was a snouting, sniping and intelligence officer in France and on 16 April 1916 was promoted captain. He commanded the 10th's leading company early in the Battle of Pozières
and was awarded the Military Cross
. He was sent to England after receiving a sever head wound but returned to the front in November. At Louverval Wood on 8 April 1917 he was wounded in the neck, but continued to lead his men for several hours. He returned to his unit in May, but until June 1918 he was frequently sent on other missions. For his action at Mont de Merris
on 29 July he received a Bar to his Military Cross, and he was given the Distinguished Service Order
after his leadership at Crépey Wood. Promoted temporary major on 23 September and confirmed on 21 October, he spent time at the School of Tactics in Camberley
before becoming second-in-command of the battalion on 7 December. He commanded the 10th Battalion from January 1919 until its disbandment in March; he received a mention in Douglas Haig
's final despatch and had a prominent place in the 1919 Anzac Day
march.
He spent June to September in Keswick Hospital and was discharged from the AIF on 8 September. He attempted farming in Truro
and Manoora
but was hampered by his war injuries. He married Mildred Southcott on 20 August 1921. In March 1922 he began studying law at the University of Adelaide
, and he was called to the Bar in 1925. He went into partnership with fellow war hero Arthur Blackburn but by 1927 had returned to the armed forces as commander of the 10th Battalion of the Australian Military Forces. Later that year he was transferred to the 43rd Battalion as lieutenant-colonel. Placed on the unattached list in 1930 and in the reserve in 1935, he briefly commanded a special constabulary of men over 45 during World War II
. In 1935 he was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire and in 1956 would be appointed Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George. He was state vice-president (1921–23) and president (1924–29) of the Returned Sailors' and Soldiers' Imperial League of Australia until he resigned to unsuccessfully run for Boothby
as a Nationalist
in the 1929 federal election
. He died of coronary disease
at Tusmore
in 1957.
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
, OBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, DSO
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
, MC & Bar
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
(19 April 1892 – 14 December 1957) was an Australian soldier and barrister.
McCann was born at Glanville
Glanville, South Australia
Glanville is a north western suburb of Adelaide, in the City of Port Adelaide Enfield.- See also :* Glanville railway station...
in Adelaide to engine driver John Francis McCann and Eliza, née Francis. He attended Adelaide High School
Adelaide High School
Adelaide High School is a coeducational state high school situated on the corner of West Terrace and Glover Avenue in the Adelaide Parklands. It is the first government high school in South Australia...
and became a teacher in 1913, working at Ethelton
Ethelton, South Australia
Ethelton is a north-western suburb of Adelaide 13km from the CBD, on the LeFevre Peninsula, in the state of South Australia, Australia and is within the City of Port Adelaide Enfield. It is adjacent to Semaphore, Semaphore South and Glanville...
, Malvern
Malvern, South Australia
Malvern is an inner-southern suburb of Adelaide in the City of Unley. It borders adjacent suburbs of Unley and Parkside to the north, Highgate to the east, Kingswood to the south and Unley Park to the west...
and Glanville. At the outbreak of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force
Australian Imperial Force
The Australian Imperial Force was the name given to all-volunteer Australian Army forces dispatched to fight overseas during World War I and World War II.* First Australian Imperial Force * Second Australian Imperial Force...
's 10th Battalion and by the time he embarked in October had been promoted sergeant
Sergeant
Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
. On 25 April 1915
ANZAC Day
Anzac Day is a national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand, commemorated by both countries on 25 April every year to honour the members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps who fought at Gallipoli in the Ottoman Empire during World War I. It now more broadly commemorates all...
he landed at Gallipoli
Gallipoli
The Gallipoli peninsula is located in Turkish Thrace , the European part of Turkey, with the Aegean Sea to the west and the Dardanelles straits to the east. Gallipoli derives its name from the Greek "Καλλίπολις" , meaning "Beautiful City"...
and received several mentions for outstanding service in routine orders. Promoted second lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
on 4 August and full lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
on 14 November, he served in Gallipoli until he was transferred to the Western Front
Western Front
Western Front was a term used during the First and Second World Wars to describe the contested armed frontier between lands controlled by Germany to the east and the Allies to the west...
in early 1916.
McCann was a snouting, sniping and intelligence officer in France and on 16 April 1916 was promoted captain. He commanded the 10th's leading company early in the Battle of Pozières
Battle of Pozières
The Battle of Pozières was a two week struggle for the French village of Pozières and the ridge on which it stands, during the middle stages of the 1916 Battle of the Somme. Though British divisions were involved in most phases of the fighting, Pozières is primarily remembered as an Australian battle...
and was awarded the Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
. He was sent to England after receiving a sever head wound but returned to the front in November. At Louverval Wood on 8 April 1917 he was wounded in the neck, but continued to lead his men for several hours. He returned to his unit in May, but until June 1918 he was frequently sent on other missions. For his action at Mont de Merris
Merris
-References:*...
on 29 July he received a Bar to his Military Cross, and he was given the Distinguished Service Order
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
after his leadership at Crépey Wood. Promoted temporary major on 23 September and confirmed on 21 October, he spent time at the School of Tactics in Camberley
Camberley
Camberley is a town in Surrey, England, situated 31 miles southwest of central London, in the corridor between the M3 and M4 motorways. The town lies close to the borders of both Hampshire and Berkshire; the boundaries intersect on the western edge of the town where all three counties...
before becoming second-in-command of the battalion on 7 December. He commanded the 10th Battalion from January 1919 until its disbandment in March; he received a mention in Douglas Haig
Douglas Haig
Douglas Haig, 1st Earl Haig was a British soldier and senior commander during World War I.Douglas Haig may also refer to:* Club Atlético Douglas Haig, a football club from Argentina* Douglas Haig , American actor...
's final despatch and had a prominent place in the 1919 Anzac Day
ANZAC Day
Anzac Day is a national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand, commemorated by both countries on 25 April every year to honour the members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps who fought at Gallipoli in the Ottoman Empire during World War I. It now more broadly commemorates all...
march.
He spent June to September in Keswick Hospital and was discharged from the AIF on 8 September. He attempted farming in Truro
Truro, South Australia
Truro is a town in South Australia, 80 km northeast of Adelaide. It is on the Sturt Highway east of the Barossa Valley near where the highway crosses the ridge of the Mount Lofty Ranges. The town was laid out in 1847 and 1848 by John Howard Angas, the son of George Fife Angas who had bought...
and Manoora
Manoora, South Australia
Manoora is a settlement in South Australia. At the 2006 census, Manoora had a population of 277.-References:...
but was hampered by his war injuries. He married Mildred Southcott on 20 August 1921. In March 1922 he began studying law at the University of Adelaide
University of Adelaide
The University of Adelaide is a public university located in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 1874, it is the third oldest university in Australia...
, and he was called to the Bar in 1925. He went into partnership with fellow war hero Arthur Blackburn but by 1927 had returned to the armed forces as commander of the 10th Battalion of the Australian Military Forces. Later that year he was transferred to the 43rd Battalion as lieutenant-colonel. Placed on the unattached list in 1930 and in the reserve in 1935, he briefly commanded a special constabulary of men over 45 during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. In 1935 he was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire and in 1956 would be appointed Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George. He was state vice-president (1921–23) and president (1924–29) of the Returned Sailors' and Soldiers' Imperial League of Australia until he resigned to unsuccessfully run for Boothby
Division of Boothby
The Division of Boothby is an Australian Electoral Division in South Australia. The division was created in 1903 and is named after William Boothby , the Returning Officer for the first election of Members of the House of Representatives in 1901....
as a Nationalist
Nationalist Party of Australia
The Nationalist Party of Australia was an Australian political party. It was formed on 17 February 1917 from a merger between the conservative Commonwealth Liberal Party and the National Labor Party, the name given to the pro-conscription defectors from the Australian Labor Party led by Prime...
in the 1929 federal election
Australian federal election, 1929
Federal elections were held in Australia on 12 October 1929. All 75 seats in the House of Representatives were up for election, with no Senate seats up for election, as a result of Billy Hughes and other rebel backbenchers crossing the floor over industrial relations legislation, depriving the...
. He died of coronary disease
Coronary disease
Coronary disease refers to the failure of coronary circulation to supply adequate circulation to cardiac muscle and surrounding tissue. It is already the most common form of disease affecting the heart and an important cause of premature death in Europe, the Baltic states, Russia, North and South...
at Tusmore
Tusmore, South Australia
-History:In 1839, a pastoralist William Rogers, settled in the area and named his land Tusmore after his birthplace in Oxfordshire, England. In 1911 the area roughly corresponding to modern-day Tusmore, known as Section 291, was owned by the Colonial Board of Advice of the South Australian Company...
in 1957.