Letter from the Somme

Alex McColl had been a key member of the Wellington College First XV in 1909 and was a talented all-round sportsman. Like many of his school mates he was quick to enlist when the war broke out. He led a platoon at a landing in Gallipoli in 1915, participating in much of the heavy fighting there. He was wounded but returned to active service and was present at the evacuation in December 1915.

By 1916 Captain Alex McColl was in France and he wrote to his mother with some excitement about the prospect of going into battle on the opening day of the Battle of the Somme. He described this as ‘a red letter day in my history’ and how they were ‘just the boys for this game’. For McColl this ‘game’ ended the next day when he became one of more than 150 boys from his old school to die on the Western Front.

Alex McColl’s letter

France
July 1, 1916
My Dearest Mother,
Just a small note in case I should be incapacitated for a few days or so. Today is a red letter day in my history as I am taking out a raiding party against the huns. I have been down here with my party for a few days and everything is working beautifully. If we don’t give the Boche the biggest hiding he has ever received it will not be our fault.

I suppose you think it rather strange that I as an adjutant should be selected for this job. I am really the luckiest of men to have got the chance. In the first place all subalterns were selected for the job, but through a most unfortunate bombing accident two of these were killed. Capt Nareby was next thought of but soon after he went back to England with appendicitis. As we are awfully short of officers at present there was no one left with the necessary experience and stamina to take the party.

I know that the Colonel did not like me going but his hands are tied and personally I consider myself the luckiest of men to have the opportunity of leading such a splendid body of men that I have under me.

They are all trained like fighting cocks. I have been at football etc for the last few weeks. I have most of the old football team here including some very well known reps, just the boys for this game.

Am feeling absolutely confident, so please, dear mother, do not worry about me. I am quite sure you would not have me do otherwise, especially if you saw how pleased the men were when they found I was coming down.

I have received several of your lovely letters lately, written as only you know how to write them. I am quite excited about the improvements to the house and would dearly like to see them. I would love to fit into my old place at home once more.

Best love to all the girls and many thanks for their letters. Tell Dad I am trying to keep his good name untarnished. Received a lovely birthday parcel a few days ago.

All my love and good wishes. Ever your loving son
Alex

The London Gazette on 4 January 1917 described McColl’s death: 'This Officer commanded the raiding party from this Battalion which raided the enemy's trenches on the night of the 1st/2nd July. The raid was a complete success, the whole of the enemy there being killed or captured, and 10 prisoners were bought back to our trenches. This brilliant result was largely due to the capable leadership, coolness and courage of this Officer. After returning to our trenches he learnt that all the wounded had not been bought in, and he again went into "No Man's Land" and while assisting to bring in 2 wounded men he himself was wounded by machine gun fire, from which he subsequently died.'