Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Andrew McCall was the youngest of 12 children, 7 sons and 5 daughters of whom only 9 survived, born in 1898 at Hebburn, Northumberland to Andrew McCall Snr native of Castlegate near Jedburgh, Scotland born 1856 and Joanne Octon born 1853 at Spittal, Northumberland, they were married in the district of Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 1873. Andrew was named after an older brother Andrew born in 1876, who worked as a labourer in the chemical industry in 1891 along with his father whilst the family were living at 59, John Street Heworth and had met an untimely death when only 22 years old in 1897. By the time, Andrew was born the family had moved to Shanks Row, his father, brothers William and Charles were working at the copper works on the banks of the Tyne, Joseph only 14 worked above ground at the colliery as a screener. In 1911 Andrew was still a scholar and only his brother Henry, a brick labourer was living at home, their father was an iron worker at an engineering works.
Andrew McCall may have already have been a reservist when WW1 began as he was assigned as Private 25336 to the 2nd Battalion of the Regular Army, Durham Light Infantry but only departed for the front August 28th 1915 landing as part of the British Expeditionary Force, attached to the 18th Brigade, 6th Division. They were the second wave to arrive replacing the losses already sustained by the 2nd Battalion during 1914 at Aisne, Armentieres, France and on the Ypres salient in Belgium. Joining the battalion on the salient they spent the winter there having relieved the troops of the 6th Division that had participated in the Second Battle of Ypres. Things were relatively quiet with no major battles only day to day trench warfare.
The record for Private McCall was one of the 70% destroyed during the blitz of WW2, his medal card survives and simply states, “dead”, without giving a cause, however the area surrounding the cemetery in which he is buried was within the Allied lines for practically the entire duration of WW1, although subjected to fire, Potijze Chateau contained an Advance Dressing Station.
Private 25336 Andrew McCall died December 16th 1915 and is interred at Potijze Burial Ground Cemetery, West Vlaanderens, near Ypres in Belgium, grave CI. 20, he was 18 years old and single. Private McCall was underage and should not even have been on active service overseas, the limit was 19 years. He received the awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal as would befit a serviceman of his age, however, his mother successfully applied for him to receive the 1914/15 Star in recognition of his service in Belgium. Joanne McCall as his beneficiary also received all monies due to him and a pension sent to her at 1, George Street, Heworth Lanes, Felling-on-Tyne, County Durham.
Andrew McCall senior died in the district of Gateshead, aged 67 years in 1918, details of wife unknown.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Andrew McCall is remembered at Heworth on H92.03
