Also Served: Arthur John McPhail - Arthur John MCPHAIL
The Park, Kirkby Captain, 1/5th Bn., South Lancashire Regiment
Arthur McPhail. Picture courtesy of Martin Ledson
Arthur McPhail (sometimes shown as MacPhail) was a native of Glasgow but moved south in the early 1900's to work at the Wire Works in Prescot.
He married Marguerite Irene Jones in Liverpool in the summer of 1906 and they had two children; Sheila (1907) and Frederick (1909).
At the time of the 1911 census, he was listed at the above address with his occupation shown as "Representative Engineer". Trade directories for the Institute of Electrical Engineers showed that he had joined that organisation as an Associate in 1901.
Like many men of the time, he served in the Territorial Army, being a Captain in the 5th Bn., South Lancashire Regiment.
Much of his military career in the Great War was documented in the BI's "Link" magazine as the ar progressed.
BI "Link" Magazine, August 1914
BI "Link" Magazine, November 1914
BI "Link" Magazine,
With his unit, he went to France on 8th March 1915.
Arthur McPhail was one of a group of seven officers of the South Lancs who worked at the Wire Works and was known as the "Big Seven". As well as McPhail, this group comprised Major Bates, Capt. James Tennant, Major Nash, Major Selwyn, QM Doolan and Captain Gould.
BI "Link" Magazine, March 1915
BI "Link" Magazine, March 1915
BI "Link" Magazine, April 1915
On 6th May 1915, the Battalion was heavily involved in the fighting at Vlamertinghe, close to Ypres, and Captain McPhail was one of 60 men wounded that day. He remained at duty and was wounded again 5 days later at Wieltje.
BI "Link" Magazine, June 1915
BI "Link" Magazine, July1915
BI "Link" Magazine, January 1916
BI "Link" Magazine, May 1916
Little more is known about Capt. McPhail's service.
Capt McPhail's entry in the Silver War Badge register
He was entitled to the 1915 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal and Silver War Badge. When he applied for his medals in 1921, he gave his address as Stanley Avenue, Wallasey, though he requested that his Silver War Badge be sent to the Recruitment Office at British Insulated & Helsby Cables in Prescot.
An undated item in the Prescot Reporter (Courtesy Ste M)
Arthur McPhail joined the army again on the outbreak of the Second World War.
BI "Link" Magazine, September 1939
It would appear that Capt. McPhail worked for the Intelligence Services and he was made an member of the order of St John of Jerusalem in 1951.
London Gazette, 22nd June 1951
Arthur died in Preston in 1962, aged 84.
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