1914-15 Star : Private M P McCall, 20 Battalion, AIF

Place Africa: Egypt
Accession Number REL41097.001
Collection type Heraldry
Object type Medal
Physical description Bronze
Maker Unknown
Place made United Kingdom
Date made c 1920
Conflict First World War, 1914-1918
Description

1914-15 Star. Impressed reverse with recipient's details.

History / Summary

Miller Pettigrew McCall was born at Lithgow, NSW, in 1895. He was a master baker, when he enlisted in the AIF on 10 July 1915, and had already completed four years part time service with the senior cadets attached to the 41st (Blue Mountains) Infantry Regiment.

McCall was assigned to the 6th reinforcements of 20 Battalion, with the service number 2884. After training at Liverpool Camp in Sydney, he embarked for overseas service aboard the transport HMAT A14 Euripides on 2 November 1915. In Egypt, in February 1916, McCall was transferred to D company, 56 Battalion, as a result of the expansion and reorganisation of the AIF. The new battalion continued training in Egypt, before sailing for France in the British transport HT Huntsend, arriving at Marseilles at the end of June.

On 12 July the battalion entered the front line trenches for the first time, and a week later took part as reserve unit in the disastrous battle of Fromelles. McCall was promoted to lance corporal on 26 July, and to temporary corporal and acting company quartermaster sergeant on 27 November. His promotion to corporal was confirmed in February 1917, and to sergeant a month later.

In May 1917 the battalion was sent to consolidate gains made during the Second Battle of Bullecourt. On 19 May, when D Company had just returned from the frontline at Bullecourt, McCall was sitting and talking in the company store at Fremicourt at about 9.30 pm. He stood up to reach for a blanket, to issue to a soldier who had recently returned from hospital, when the store was hit by a stray shell. The soldier was killed outright, and six other men, including McCall, were wounded.

Suffering compound fractures to the skull, McCall was evacuated to the 3rd British Casualty Clearing Station at nearby Grevillers, although it was considered that the 'case was hopeless from the start'. He died in the dressing room, shortly before midnight and was buried the next day at the Grevillers British Cemetery.