James McGall was the eldest son of Johnston and Elizabeth McGall. He was born on 7th April 1884 in Portglenone. In Portglenone, James was a car driver. His father was a labourer. James married Sarah Jane Scott, probably in Scotland or northern England, sometime between 1901 and 1911. The 1911 census lists his wife Sarah Jane and two children living with her parents in Portglenone. Prior to enlistment he had worked in the coal mines in the north east of England. He enlisted in Gateshead. Private James McGall D.C.M. was serving with the Depot with the Durham Light Infantry when he had died of wounds in England on 1st November 1918, just ten days before the end of the war.
Further Information
James McGall was the eldest son of Johnston and Elizabeth McGall. Johnston McGall married Elizabeth Gourley on 20th February 1879 in the district of Ballymena.
William James McGall was born on 7th April 1884. Like all six other siblings, he was born in Portglenone.
Family: Johnston McGall, Elizabeth McGall, Margaret McGall (born 2nd September 1881), William James McGall (born 7th April 1884), Johnston McGall (born 23rd May 1887), Mary Jane McGall (born 21st February 1890), John McGall (born 4th April 1893), Andrew McGall (born 4th January 1897), Thomas McGall (born 14th February 1899).
The 1901 census lists James as age 17 living with the family at house 56 in Garvaghy, Portglenone, County Antrim. James was a car driver. His father was a labourer.
James married Sarah Jane Scott, probably in Scotland or northern England, sometime between 1901 and 1911.
The 1911 census does not census list James as living with the family at house 3 in Garvaghy, Portglenone, Antrim.
The 1911 census lists his wife Sarah Jane and two children living with her parents in Portglenone. James is not listed as living with them.
Family: James McGall, Sarah Jane McGall, Agnes McGall (born about 1907), Sarah McGall (born about 1909). Both children were born in Scotland.
Prior to enlistment he had worked in the coal mines in the north east of England.
At the outbreak of war, James McGall enlisted in the Durham Light Infantry in Gateshead in the north east of England
Early in 1917, Private McGall was one of a party which, when going to occupy a listening post, met with heavy rifle and grenade fire at close range. The suddenness of the attack caused confusion but he at once crawled forward with his grenades and threw them into the listening post, whence the fire proceeded, causing the enemy to retire. He received the Distinguished Conduct Medal (D.C.M.) for these actions.
In April 1917 it was reported that a ceremony took place at Portglenone when Private James McGall, Distinguished Conduct Medal, Durham Light Infantry, was presented with a handsome clock and ornaments by some friends in the village to mark their appreciation of the gallant action which won him the medal for distinguished conduct.
It was reported on 6th April 1917 that Private McGall was one of three brothers who had all been wounded, one of them severely, in the war.
Private James McGall D.C.M. was serving with the Depot with the Durham Light Infantry when he had died of wounds in England on 1st November 1918, just ten days before the end of the war.
Private James McGall D.C.M. is buried in Heworth Churchyard, Durham.
The CWGC record Private McGall as the son of Johnston and Lizzie McGall and also as the husband of Sarah Jane McGall, of Portglenone, Co. Antrim. It also states he was born at Portglenone.
The Steel of the DLI: 2nd Battalion of the Durham Light Infantry, 1914-1918 by John Sheen. Page 123 confirms that he died of wounds.
