Edward's Story.
Edward McGill was born in Rock Ferry, Cheshire in 1891, to Father Joseph Edward McGill, a retired Master Mariner, and mother Elizabeth. At the time of his birth his father, mother and elder sister, Ellen were living at 421 New Chester Road, Rock Ferry. A year later Edward’s younger brother John Philip was born.
Sadly in 1896 their mother Elizabeth died. The family by 1901 were still living at the same address. Both boys attended the Birkenhead Institute School.
In 1909, Edward and his brother John both enlisted as territorials in the 6th Battalion, King’s Liverpool Regiment, with Edward being promoted to Corporal in 1912. On the 1911 census the family had moved to Egerton Park, Rock Ferry with Edward working as an architect’s articled pupil.
With the outbreak of the First World War Edward and John (both territorials) were called up immediately. Their battalion was based in England until 24th February 1915, the same day that Edward was promoted to Lance Sergeant, leaving for France and arrived in Le Havre the next day.
The 1/6th KLR at that time were attached to the 5th Division and were involved in the 2nd battle of Ypres and the capture of Hill 60 (April-May 1915). By January 1916 the battalion had moved to 55th Division, based around Hallencourt and then to the south of Arras. In late July of that year the battalion moved near to the village of Guillemont taking part in the Somme offensive.
It was during one attack in front of the village of Flers, by the 1/6th, on the 25th September that Edward was killed. His brother John, who was nearby when Edward died, sent a letter home to their father.
The following report was published in the Birkenhead News on October 7th 1916 -
Old Institute Boy Killed
Buried by his Brother
Captain McGill, of Egerton Park, Rock Ferry, has had official notification of the death in action of his son, Sergt. E. McGill.
Sergeant McGill and his brother, Corporal Philip McGill, both joined the K.L.R and went to the front in February 1915. They were educated at the Birkenhead Institute and played for the Old Boys’ F.C.
Corporal McGill has written the following letter to his father -: “We were attacking the German position and came under heavy rifle fire. Eddie fell, killed, and I immediately ran to his assistance and got him into the nearest shell hole at 1p.m. Shortly afterwards I was slightly wounded by shrapnel. It was impossible for me to move during daylight as I was sniped at, so I had to wait till darkness came, when I buried dear Eddie and offered a prayer to God that He would take my brother under His care and console us in our sorrow.”
Sadly, Edward’s grave was not located after the battle and he is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial. His brother John survived the war.
Sergeant Edward McGill is also remembered on the Birkenhead War Memorial and the Birkenhead Institute War Memorial inside the town’s main library. In addition, in the early 1930’s, each one of the 88 old boys from the Birkenhead Institute who lost their lives in the First World War were commemorated by the planting of 88 trees bordering the old school playing field. Unfortunately, in recent years these trees have been cut down as the land was sold for redevelopment. However, a new memorial was erected in 2019 to remember the men, in the form of a statue named ‘Futility’ after a Wilfred Owen poem (himself a former pupil of the same school) and is not far from the Birkenhead War Memorial.
Research by Chris