MCCANN, William Edward
| Service Number: | 1628 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 24 August 1915, Brisbane, Qld. |
| Last Rank: | Trooper |
| Last Unit: | 2nd Light Horse Regiment |
| Born: | Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, 1891 |
| Home Town: | Coorparoo, Brisbane, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Coorparoo State School |
| Occupation: | Dairyman |
| Died: | Illness, Egypt, 11 April 1916 |
| Cemetery: |
Cairo War Memorial Cemetery M 114 |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Coorparoo Roll of Honor, Coorparoo Shire Memorial Gates (Greenslopes), Coorparoo State School Honour Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 24 Aug 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1628, 2nd Light Horse Regiment, Brisbane, Qld. | |
|---|---|---|
| 30 Nov 1915: | Involvement Private, 1628, 2nd Light Horse Regiment, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '1' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Suffolk embarkation_ship_number: A23 public_note: '' | |
| 30 Nov 1915: | Embarked Private, 1628, 2nd Light Horse Regiment, HMAT Suffolk, Sydney | |
| 11 Apr 1916: | Involvement Trooper, 1628, 2nd Light Horse Regiment, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 1628 awm_unit: 2nd Australian Light Horse Regiment awm_rank: Trooper awm_died_date: 1916-04-11 |
Narrative
William Edward McCann #1628 2nd Light Horse Regiment
At enlistment on 24 August 1915, William McCann reported that he was a dairyman, 22 years old who lived with his mother, Margaret, at Bennetts Road Coorparoo. As a boy he attended Coorparoo State School from 1902. Although he was single and therefore not compelled to allot any of his pay back to Australia while serving overseas, he allotted 4 shillings of his 5 shillings a day pay to his mother.
He embarked on the “Suffolk” in Sydney on 30th November 1915 and disembarked in Egypt in February 1916. Although the AIF infantry was in an expansion phase before being sent to the western front, the Light Horse remained in Egypt for operations against the Turks in Sinai and Palestine.
On 5th April 1916, William was admitted to the #4 Australian Auxiliary Hospital in Cairo with what was suspected to be measles. This diagnosis was soon changed to smallpox and on 8th April was transferred to the Government Fever Hospital where he died three days later. He was buried at the Cairo Military Cemetery with the Rev. Prendegast conducting the burial. In due course his mother received his personal effects which included a rosary and prayer book. His medals were duly issued in 1922.
The story of William McCann is short and tragic. He had been in the services barely 7 months and had died probably without having sighted the enemy. There is no record that his mother received a war pension.
Submitted 24 July 2022 by Ian Lang
Biography contributed by Faithe Jones
Son of John McCANN and Margaret nee FAUST of Bennett's Road, Coorparro, Brisbane, Queensland
NOT LOST BUT GONE BEFORE
McCANN.—In loving memory of William Edward McCann, who died while on active service, 11th April, 1916, aged 24 years.
Not lost, but gone before.
To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die. .
Inserted by his loving parents, brothers, and sisters.
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