Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Early Life

Ronald George McKail was born on the 4th March 1889, the third son and fourth child of John Frederick McKail and Ellen Louisa Wright, at Albany, Western Australia.

His siblings were Cecily Helen (born 1891), Hugh Francis (born 1883) and John Cecil (born 1887).

Ronald acquired the nickname “Pepper” which was frequently shortened to “Pep”.

Pep’s grandfather, John McKail was an early settler in Western Australia, arriving from Deptford, United Kingdom in 1812. He moved to Albany, WA in 1835 and was an agent for Mr Anthony Curtis. John later became a merchant and financier and a member of the Legislative Council for WA. He died aged 61. He had two sons and seven daughters with his wife Henrietta Jenkins.

Pep’s father, John Frederick McKail, was involved in various partnerships that traded as agents under the business name of “John McKail & Co” in Albany, WA. The family moved to Adelaide, South Australia when Pep was young. Sadly for the family, Pep’s father passed away at Miss Tibbits’ Hospital, Wakefield Street, Adelaide on the 14th March 1901, aged 41. He was buried at the North Road Cemetery.

Schooling

Pep and his older brothers (John and Hugh) commenced at St Peter’s College, Adelaide in 1897.

Pep excelled academically. He won the Form III prize December 1899, the Form IVj prize for Scripture in 1900, the ‘Remove b’ form prize for Scripture in 1902 and the ‘Remove a’ form prize in 1903. He passed Primary Examinations in English History, Greek, Latin, French, Algebra and Geometry in 1903 and was second to HH Blackburn for the Allen Classics Scholarship at St Peter’s College that year.

Pep passed three Senior Examinations (English literature, geometry, inorganic chemistry) in 1905 and seven (English History, Greek, Latin, Arithmetic and Algebra (with credit), Geometry, Trigonometry and Inorganic Chemistry) in 1906. In his final year at St Peter’s, Pep passed five subjects in the Higher Public Examinations (Greek, Latin, Pure Mathematics, Applied Mathematics and) Inorganic Chemistry and was awarded the St Peter’s Westminster Scholarship for Classics.

Pep competed in the St Peter’s College Sports coming third in the Senior Obstacle race (400 yard) in September 1905. He was on the committee who organised the Sports in 1907.

Pep was also excelled at sports and played in the St Peter’s football team from 1905 to 1907. He was in the best players in a match against Christian Brothers College in June 1905 and played for the present boys against the Old Scholars’ team that year. He represented St Peter’s in intercollegiate football against Prince Alfred College from 1905 to 1907 and against Scotch College, Melbourne in 1906. He was vice-captain of the St Peter’s team in 1907.

In a newspaper article published shortly after Pep enlisted in July 1915, Pep was described as “one of the best footballers the “Saints” ever had”.

He played South Australian Cricket Association B Grade District Cricket for St Peters in the 1906/07 and 1907/08 seasons and represented the College in intercollegiate matches against PAC in 1906 and 1907, captaining the side in 1907.

In 1907 Pep won one of the two challenge cups presented at St Peters for rifle shooting (he was in the Cadet Corps at St Peter’s for 3 years) and he attended the St Peter’s College Dance in December that year.

Early Career

After completing his schooling at St Peter’s College, Pep commenced working for the Eastern Extension Cable Company (EECC) as a telegraphy apprentice.

He worked for the company for four years (1908 to 1911). In his final year at EECC he also commenced his forestry degree at the University of Adelaide.

Pep represented the EECC in a “Reporters versus Telegraphists” football match in September 1911. Among the players were four who had never played football and others had not played for many years, however, the EECC team included RK McKail (League -North Adelaide), AK Schedlich (League- South Adelaide), JD Yeatman (probably D Yeatman – Amateur League - Glenferrie) and TF Flaherty (Amateur League- St Francis Xavier) and EECC won the match easily.

North Adelaide Football Club

Pep played League football in for North Adelaide from 1908 - 1913 seasons. He played 64 league games (see https://nafc.com.au/history/player?playerId=0866c43f-212e-4f5b-9516-93f5c28f5365 for more details).

In his second season with North, Pep was awarded the club medal for best follower. He was elected Vice-Captain of the team for both the 1912 and 1913 seasons. When the 1913 Captain (B Leahy) broke his leg in May 1913, Pep was elected Captain for the remainder of the season and took the team to the grand Final where they were defeated by Port Adelaide.

In June 1910, Pep joined the team on a tour to Sydney where they played a match against a New South Wales League team and another against Sydney.

At the end of the 1912 season Pep joined the team on a visit to Broken Hill where they played against a team from the Barrier Ranges Association. The team also visited the mines and were entertained at an ice skating rink. The full team photo appeared in The Express and Telegraph (Adelaide, SA : 1867 - 1922) on the 28th September 1912.

In December 1913 at a smoke social given by the North Adelaide Football Club the years trophies were presented and a number of gifts presented including a travel bag given to Pep for efficient service.

Other Sporting Activities

Cricket

Pep played B Grade cricket in the South Australian Cricket Association for North Adelaide (now Prospect) in 1908/09, 1909/10 and finally the 1910/11 season.
Pep made a total of 93 runs in the 1910/11 season from 9 innings with a high score of 31 not out, he also played a minor role as a bowler taking 1 for 15.

Pep also played cricket against a country team selected by Mr Frank McArdle, of Balaklava in March 1910.

Even though he was enrolled for several years from 1911 and after completing the 1910/11 season with North Adelaide, he did not ever play cricket with Adelaide University. It appears as a Forestry student that his summer vacations may possibly have been spent in the South East of the State at the Mt Burr plantations where he would gain practical experience. He did however play cricket for several seasons (1913/14 and 1914/15) for Millicent in the South East of South Australia.
During the winter months he was back in Adelaide playing football again with North Adelaide.

Boxing

In November 1909 Pep was involved in a demonstration of boxing by Mr Frank Charlton’s School of Arms.

Old Scholars Football

Pep represented St Peter’s Old Scholars in six consecutive football matches against PAC Old Scholars from July 1908 to July 1913.

Old Scholars Cricket

Pep played in the 1908 and 1911 St Peter’s Cricket matches playing for Old Scholars against the present boys.

Tennis

In March 1911 Pep competed in the Men’s Doubles Handicap Class II at the annual South Australian Lawn Tennis tournament.

University

Pep commenced studying at the University of Adelaide In 1911. Pep, Alfred Leslie Pinches and Alfred Carl Schedlich were the first three students to enrol in a Forestry degree. He completed subjects at the University and at the School of Mines. In his first year he won prizes for both Botany and Forestry.

Pep completed the subjects toward his degree in 1913 and in March 1914 he also passed the Senior Examination in French. When his degree was conferred in a special ceremony in May 1914 he was the first student admitted to a degree in forestry in Australia.

University Sport

Football

Pep was a member of the 1912 Adelaide University Intervarsity side who lost to Melbourne University at University Oval Adelaide in August that year. Pep was one of the best South Australian players in the match and he scored two goals.

Pep continued to play league football for North Adelaide while a student at Adelaide University however after graduation he moved to Millicent to commence his career and had to retire from league football.

In late July 1915, Pep travelled to Adelaide to enlist for World War I. It is possible that Pep played one game for the Adelaide University Football Club in the Amateur League on Saturday 31st July 1915, as he was listed among the 21 players available for the match.

Boat

Pep was a member of the Adelaide University Boat Club from 1911. He competed in the Henley-on Torrens carnival in December 1911. He was stroke for the Science (Forestry) boat at the University Schools Races in July 1913.

Forestry Career

On completing his studies, Pep became the Assistant Forester with the Woods and Forest Department at the Mount Burr Forest Reserve near Millicent.

Through sport, Pep quickly became a member of the Millicent community. He played cricket for Millicent from January 1914 and became Secretary of the Millicent Cricket Club by November 1914. Pep spoke on behalf of the Club when they farewelled their captain Mr ML Gurr when he enlisted in March 1915.

In the winter of 1914 Pep played football for the Millicent Warriors assisting the team in winning its first premiership in the Drainage Area Football Association competition.

In addition to football and cricket, Pep was a member of the Millicent Tennis Club and he competed in the men’s handicap singles in March 1915 and won his semi-finals match but lost the final to Mr WS Hobart.

Pep was a member of the Millicent Caledonian Society's and he competed in the handicap Hurdles, 130 yards, at the Society's Highland Gathering which was held on Easter Monday, April 5, 1915. He was also an active member of the Millicent Rifle Club.

Pep’s forest diary is held by the University of Adelaide library (MSS 634.9 M153 see https://www.adelaide.edu.au/library/special/mss/mckail/)

World War I

Pep and Peter Sutherland left Millicent on the 2nd July 1915 to proceed to Adelaide to enlist.

Pep commenced the enlistment process on the 9th July and enlisted on the 13th July 1915 with Service Number 4174. He was 25 years and 4 months old, 5 foot 9½ inches tall and weighed 159 lbs. Pep had a dark complexion, brown eyes and black hair. His mother was listed as his Next-of-kin.

From the 21st July 1915 to 31 August 1915 Pep attended Non Commissioned Officers School. He was appointed a Private in the 32nd Battalion from the 1st September to the 15th October 1915 then an acting Sergeant from 16th November 1915 with the 13th reinforcement of the 16th Battalion.

The North Adelaide Football Club held a smoke social at the North Adelaide Institute on the 29th September 1915 to honour Pep and other A and B grade players who were about to go into camp.

On the 23rd October 1915 Pep was present when the “Gawler Races” were held at Victoria Park due to the requirements of martial law.

Pep returned to Millicent on the 8th to 14th December 1915 to spend some of his final leave with friends. He also spent some time at Pt Elliot, returning to Adelaide on the 4th January 1916.

Pep embarked from Adelaide, South Australia, on board HMAT A30 Borda on 11th January 1916 and arrived at Zeitoun, Egypt and reverted to the rank of Private when taken on the strength of the 48th Battalion.

On 9th March 1916 he was made an acting Corporal and on the same dates an acting Sergeant. He left Alexandria, Egypt on the 2nd June 1916 and disembarked at Marseilles, France on the 9th June 1916.

On the 22nd August 1916 a rumour spread around Millicent that Pep had been killed in action, on that same day a undated letter from Pep was printed in the ‘The South Eastern Times’ (Millicent, SA : 1906 – 1954) . The letter details Pep’s experiences travelling through France and his time in Egypt.

Pep’s letter (see document) may have been one of the last he wrote as despite the hopes and reports that Pep was at the front and well, Pep had been killed in action on the 6th August 1916.

Death

Sadly for Pep’s family the rumours of his passing were correct. Ronald George “Pep” McKail was killed in action on the 6th August 1916 at Pozieres, Somme Sector, France. “He led B. Company of the 48th Battalion to the trenches in the vicinity of windmill Pozieres 6th August 1916, he gained his objective and then had his leg blown off nearly at the thigh and in this condition for 2 hours maintained command of his men cheerfully ignoring his dreadful wound, he cheered up his wounded and dying.”

A letter received in Adelaide on the 1st January 1917 gives an account that Pep was wounded in the calf but had the wound bound and continued fighting but he was shot in the leg again and succumbed to his wounds the next morning.

Pep has no known grave and is commemorated at the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, France. He left an estate values at £1,360.

For the first anniversary of Pep’s death a notice of remembrance appeared in the Adelaide paper ‘The Journal’, inserted by Sergeant WP Russell, AIF, France.

It is likely that WP Russell was Company Sergeant Major, William Paterson Russell of South Australia and the 48th Battalion who tragically was killed in action on the 12 October 1917 and is buried at the Passchendaele, New British Cemetery, Belgium.

For many years the North Adelaide Football Club awarded the “RG McKail Memorial Trophy” to the clubs best junior and at the Centenary of ANZAC Pep was remembered in the tribute (see document).

For the complete profile including photographs, newspaper articles, documents and sources prepared by Beth Filmer for the AUFC/AUCC WWI Memorial Project (with assistance from Rob O'Shannassy, Janne Filmer & Kym Beilby) please see the document attached or the Adelaide University site AdelaideConnect at
https://connect.adelaide.edu.au/nodes/view/25720

Extract from the Adelaide University Football Club and Adelaide University Cricket Club document honouring "The Fallen" Anzac Day 2015.

Ronald played Intervarsity Football in 1912. He also played for AUFC in 1912 and 1915. He completed a BSc (Forrestry). Ronald played 63 league football games for North Adelaide from 1907-13 and was captain for the latter half of the 1913 season.

Ronald enlisted 9th July 1915. He was initially a member of the 16th Battalion but during the establishment of the 4th Division, he and half of the 16th were transferred to the new 48th Battalion. On 6th August 1916, the Germans broke through the lines at Pozieres and caught the 48th by surprise. 40 were captured and were being escorted back by more than 80 Germans. The Germans were attacked by Albert Jacka VC and a few members of his platoon (8 men in total). This panicked the Germans and the members of the 48th broke free and started to fight the Germans as well. McKail had his leg blown off by a bomb but lay in the trench encouraging his men until he died.