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McCANN, William Francis John
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(Liet Col) William Francis James "Billy" McCann CMG, DSO, OBE, MC & Bar
Lieutenant Colonel William Francis James "Billy" McCann CMG, DSO, OBE, MC & Bar, (right) was a teacher from Glanville, SA prior to enlistment on 24 August 1914 and embarked from Adelaide, SA with the 10th Battalion aboard Transport A11 Ascanius on 20 October 1914.
He was Mentioned in Despatches and was awarded the Military Cross (with Bar) on 14 December 1916, and the Distinguished Service Order on 3 June 1919. He Returned to Australia 20 May 1919. In 1935 he was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire and in 1956 he was appointed Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George.
| Regimental number | 405 |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Occupation | Teacher |
| Address | Pelham Street, Glanville, South Australia |
| Marital status | Single |
| Age at embarkation | 22 |
| Next of kin | Father, J F McCann, Pelham Street, Glanville, South Australia |
| Enlistment date | 24-Aug-14 |
| Rank on enlistment | Sergeant |
| Unit name | 10th Battalion, D Company |
| AWM Embarkation Roll number | 23/27/1 |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Adelaide, South Australia, on board Transport A11 Ascanius on 20 October 1914 |
| Rank from Nominal Roll | Major |
| Unit from Nominal Roll | 10th Battalion |
| Recommendations (Medals and Awards) | Military Cross |
| *'Splendid work at Gallipoli, Fleurbaix and conspicuous bravery at Pozieres.' | |
| Recommendation date: "29 July 1916* | |
| Bar to Military Cross | |
| Recommendation date: 14 August 1918" | |
| Mention in Despatches | |
| Awarded, and promulgated, 'London Gazette' No. 31448 (11 July 1919); 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 124 (30 October 1919). | |
| Fate | Returned to Australia 20 May 1919 |
| Medals | Military Cross |
| '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.' | |
| Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 184 | |
| Date: 14 December 1916 | |
| Distinguished Service Order | |
| 'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty near Lihons on 10th August, 1918. After the attack had failed at Crepey 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 dirve 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.' | |
| Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 67 | |
| Date: 3 June 1919 | |
| Bar to Military Cross | |
| '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.' | |
| Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 31 | |
| Date: 4 March 1919 | |
| Other details | Medals: Military Cross and Bar, Distinguished Service Order, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal |
McCann enlisted as a private in the 10th Battalion, Australian Imperial Force, on 24 August 1914 and, already a sergeant, embarked in October. On 25 April 1915 he landed at Gallipoli as a company sergeant major and because of outstanding service between 6 May and 28 June was mentioned several times in routine orders. On 4 August he was commissioned second lieutenant and was promoted lieutenant on 14 November. His early postings were in signals and intelligence.
As scouting, sniping and intelligence officer McCann accompanied the 10th Battalion to France and was promoted captain on 16 April 1916. He distinguished himself at Pozières on 23 July when commanding the battalion's leading company in the first stage of the attack; for his gallantry and leadership he was awarded the Military Cross. He was severely wounded in the head at Pozières and after convalescence in England rejoined his unit in mid-November. On 8 April 1917 he was wounded in the neck during a night attack on Louverval Wood; refusing for several hours to leave the line he was an inspiration to his men. He resumed duty at Ribemont in late May and from September had several postings which kept him away from the unit until June 1918. He was awarded a Bar to his Military Cross after action at Mont de Merris on the night of 29 July when he led one of the attacking companies with great dash in a daring operation. He received the Distinguished Service Order after, on 10 August at Crépey Wood, 'his courage and fine leadership prevented an important position falling into the hands of the enemy'. Crépey was 'under an inferno of enemy fire', but he directed his men with 'the greatest coolness and resource'.
On 23 September McCann was promoted temporary major and was confirmed in rank on 21 October; that day he was seconded to the School of Tactics, Camberley, England, and returned to the battalion as second-in-command on 7 December. From early January 1919 until the unit was disbanded in March, he was commanding officer. He was mentioned in Earl Haig's final dispatch that month and led the 3rd Brigade in the victory march through London on Anzac Day 1919. Returning to Australia in June he spent three months in Keswick Hospital, Adelaide, before his A.I.F. appointment ended on 8 September. Few members of the A.I.F. had risen from private to battalion commander. Two of McCann's brothers, one of whom was killed in action, had also served in the A.I.F.
McCann took up farming in the Truro and Manoora areas, but his war injuries proved too great a handicap. On 20 August 1921, giving his occupation as 'clerk', he married Mildred Southcott (d.1948) at St John's Church, Adelaide. He became an articled clerk and entered the law school of the University of Adelaide in March 1922. Admitted to the Bar in 1925, he formed a partnership with A. S. Blackburn, V.C. McCann began soldiering again in 1927 as company commander in the 10th Battalion, Australian Military Forces, transferred to the 43rd Battalion that year and became its commanding officer in December with the rank of lieutenant-colonel. In 1930 he was placed on the unattached list and in 1935 on the reserve of officers. In 1939 he briefly became officer commanding the special constabulary of men over 45, South Australian Emergency National Defence League. He was appointed O.B.E. in 1935 and C.M.G. in 1956 for his activities on behalf of ex-servicemen. In 1938-54 he was State and deputy Commonwealth prices commissioner. He was State vice-president of the Returned Sailors' and Soldiers' Imperial League of Australia in 1921-23 and president in 1924-29, resigning to unsuccessfully contest as a Nationalist the seat of Boothby in the House of Representatives.
'Bill' McCann was an able speaker and a keen debater with a pleasant and tenacious personality. Survived by two sons and a daughter he died of coronary vascular disease at his Tusmore home on 14 December 1957 and was buried in North Road cemetery. http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/mccann-william-francis-james-7304
| Major William Francis James McCann, DSO, MC | ||
| Date and unit at enlistment (ORs) | 1914-08-24 | Enlisted with the 10th Battalion. |
| Date of honour or award | 1916-09-22 | Awarded the Military Cross. |
| Other | 1918-08-27 | Commanding Officer of the 10th Battalion. |
| Other | 1918-09-30 - 1918-10-04 | Commanding Officer of the 10th Battalion. |
| Date of honour or award | 1918-11-07 | Awarded the Bar to the Military Cross. |
| Other | 1919-01-01 - 1919-03-17 | Commanding Officer of the 10th Battalion. |
| Date of honour or award | 1919-02-01 | Awarded the Distinguished Service Order. |
| Date returned to Australia | 1919-05-20 | |
| Date of honour or award | 1919-07-11 | Mention in Despatches. |
| Served with the 10th Battalion during the First World War. | ||
ID number P08858.006
Collection Photograph
Object type Black & white - Print silver gelatin
Photographer Unknown
Place made United Kingdom: England
Date made 2-9 February 1918Description
Studio portrait of three brothers, on leave together for the last time in England. From left: Lieutenant (Lt) Claude Cyril John McCann MC, 27th Battalion; 1059 Private (Pte) Jack Stewart Sydney McCann, 43rd Battalion; Captain (Capt) William Francis John McCann MC, 10th Battalion.
Pte McCann, a clerk from Port Adelaide, SA, had been promoted lance corporal by the time he was killed in action on 4 July 1918, during the Battle of Hamel. He was 22 years old.
His bothers both survived the war, Capt William McCann as a Major, with DSO, MC and Bar. One of a collection of portraits, mostly of officers of the 27th Battalion, sent to 'Mum' (presumably Mrs Cotching) during and after the First World War at Cotching, Son & Co's 'The Farm' on Ealing Common near London, where servicemen stayed whilst on leave.
ID number E04069
Collection Photograph
Object type Black & white - Glass original whole plate negative
Photographer Unknown Australian Official Photographer
Place made Belgium: Wallonie, Hainaut, Chatelet
Date made 10 January 1919Description
An outdoors group portrait of the Commanding Officer, Major William Francis James McCann, MC and bar DSO, (front row, fourth from left) and officers of the 10th Battalion. Also identified is Lieutenant Cecil Claude M Chabrel (second row, first from the right), all other officers are unidentified. Front row: an officer (fourth from left) is wearing a Military Service Medal ribbon, an officer in the front row (second from the right) is wearing a Military Cross (MC) ribbon.
ID number P08858.005
Collection Photograph
Object type Colour - Toned black & white print
Photographer The Wykeham Studios
Place made United Kingdom: England
Date made 1917-1918Description
Studio portrait of Lieutenant Claude Cyril John McCann MC, 27th Battalion (standing) and his brother Captain William Francis John McCann MC, 10th Battalion. One of a collection of portraits, mostly of officers of the 27th Battalion, sent to 'Mum' (presumably Mrs Cotching) during and after the First World War at Cotching, Son & Co's 'The Farm' on Ealing Common near London, where servicemen stayed whilst on leave.
ID number P08858.018
Collection Photograph
Object type Colour - Toned black & white print
Photographer Unknown
Place made United Kingdom: England, Greater London, London
Date made 1917-1918Description
Studio portrait of Lieutenant Claude Cyril John McCann MC, 27th Battalion (left), with his brother Captain William Francis John McCann MC, 10th Battalion. One of a collection of portraits, mostly of officers of the 27th Battalion, sent to 'Mum' (presumably Mrs Cotching) during and after the First World War at Cotching, Son & Co's 'The Farm' on Ealing Common near London, where servicemen stayed whilst on leave.
ID number E04377
Collection Photograph
Object type Black & white - Glass original whole plate negative
Place made Belgium: Wallonie, Hainaut, Chatelet
Date made 27 February 1919Description
Informal portrait of the Australian Rules Football Team of the 9th and 10th Battalions, winners of the Australian Divisional Championship for 1919. Identified are: Back Row: Beattie, 10th Battalion (sixth from the left); all others in back row unidentified. Middle row: left to right: unidentified; unidentified; Lieutenant Arthur Limb; Colonel Maurice Wilder-Neligan; 5270 Sergeant Samuel William Howie; Major William Francis James McCann; unidentified; Lieutenant Alan Percival Chittleborough, all of the 10th Battalion. Front row: 56053 Private Alfred George Cahill, 10th Battalion (extreme right).
ID number E04416
Collection Photograph
Object type Black & white - Glass original whole plate negative
Date made 4 March 1919Description
Chatelet, Belgium. 4 March 1919. Group portrait of the 1st Australian Divisional Australian Rules Football Team. Left to right, back row: unidentified; Lieutenant (Lt) H. E. Fentrill, 11th Battalion; Private (Pte) Cahill, 10th Battalion; Sergeant (Sgt) Farrelley, 10th Battalion; unidentified. Third row: unidentified; Company Quartermaster Sergeant (CQMS) C. Amber, 10th Battalion; unidentified; Sgt W. Poole, 10th Battalion; unidentified; 7103 Sgt Robert Scott Beatty DCM MM, 10th Battalion; unidentified; unidentified; Lance Corporal (L Cpl) Bennett, 5th Battalion; unidentified; unidentified; unidentified; Sgt Radcock, 10th Battalion; Captain Willis, Australian Army Medical Corps; unidentified; Sgt J. Matthews, 10th Battalion; Lt Alan P. Chittleborough. Second row: unidentified; unidentified; Major General W. G. Glasgow, General Officer Commanding, 10th Division; Sgt W. Howie, 10th Battalion; Major McCann DSO, 10th Battalion; unidentified; Lt R. B. Limb, 10th Battalion. Front row: L Cpl R. A. Hall, 10th Battalion; unidentified; unidentified sergeant.
Do you have old Photos, articles or stories of any Service Men of Semaphore & Port adelaide?
