Ronald George McKail

Ronald George McKail of North Adelaide was born in Albany, Western Australia on 4 March 1889.

He attended St Peters College and was a good all round student and sportsman.  He also served for three years in the senior cadets and was promoted to the rank of sergeant.  He left the School in 1907.

In 1911 he commenced studies at the University of Adelaide and in 1914 graduated with a Bachelor of Science (Forestry). After graduating he was employed as a Forrester; he subsequently joined the Eastern Extension Cable Company as a Training Officer.

Ronald played Intervarsity Football in 1912. He also played for the Adelaide University Football Club in 1912 and 1915. Ronald also played 63 league football games for North Adelaide from 1907-13 and was captain for the latter half of the 1913 season.

He enlisted at Keswick on 13 July 1915 and attended the Mitcham Camp NCO School 21 July - 31 August. On 1 September he was posted to the 32nd Battalion and in October was made an acting sergeant. Throughout November, he attended No 10 Officers School and at the beginning of December joined the 13th quota of reinforcements for the 16th Battalion.

He was initially a member of the 16th Battalion but during the establishment of the 4th Division, he and half of the 16th were transferred to the new 48th Battalion.

Ronald was killed in action in France on 6 August 1916.