Bill McCann

Bill McCann
McCann as a captain in 1917–18
Birth name	William Francis James McCann
Born	(1892-04-19)19 April 1892 Glanville, South Australia
Died	14 December 1957(1957-12-14) (aged 65) Tusmore, South Australia
Allegiance	Australia
Service/branch	Australian Army
Years of service	1914–19 1927–35
Rank	Lieutenant Colonel
Commands held	43rd Battalion (1927–30) 10th Battalion (1919)
Battles/wars	First World War Gallipoli Campaign Battle of Pozières
Awards	Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George Distinguished Service Order Officer of the Order of the British Empire Military Cross & Bar Mentioned in Despatches

Lieutenant Colonel William Francis James "Billy" McCann, CMG, DSO, OBE, MC & Bar (19 April 1892 – 14 December 1957) was an Australian soldier and barrister.

Early life

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.^[1]

First World War

At the outbreak of the First World War, McCann 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.^[1]

McCann was a scouting, 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 severe 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 awarded 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 was admitted to Keswick Hospital in June and was discharged from the AIF on 8 September 1919.^[1]

Later life

McCann 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 Australian Army as commander of the 10th Battalion. Later that year he was transferred to the 43rd Battalion as lieutenant colonel and two years later placed on the unattached list.^[1]

McCann 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. Moved to the army reserve in 1935, he was also appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire the same year. ^[1]

McCann briefly commanded a special constabulary of men over 45 during the Second World War. In 1956 he was appointed Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George and died of coronary disease at Tusmore the following year.^[1]

Footnotes

References

• Lock, Cecil (1936). The Fighting 10th: A South Australian Centenary Souvenir of the 10th Battalion, A.I.F. 1914–19. Adelaide, South Australia: Webb & Son. OCLC 220051389.