Draft:A.G. McCall

Major Anthony Gilchrist McCall O.B.E
Born	(1895-01-07)January 7, 1895 Conisbrough, South Yorkshire, England
Died	May 8, 1978(1978-05-08) (aged 83) Sandbanks, Poole Unitary Authority, Dorset, England
Buried	Bournemouth Crematorium and North Cemetery U9/27
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service / branch	Army
Years of service	1915-1931
Rank	Major
Unit	54th Bridgade Royal Field Artillery
Known for	Superintendent of Lushai Hills District
Battles / wars	Balkans theatre, World War I
Spouse(s)	Jean Chisholm McCall ​ ​ (m. 1924⁠–⁠1978)​ ;
Children	Jane McCall
Relations	Dr Anthony McCall (Father) Mary Greer Gilchrist McCall (Mother) Elizabeth Marion Gilchrist McCall Gough (Sister)
Other work	Lushai Chrysalis

Anthony Gilchrist McCall was a British civil servant. He was the superintendent of the Lushai Hills District from 1933-1942.

Early life

Anthony McCall was born in Yorkshire on 7 January 1895. He was educated at Cheltenham College before going to Woolwich to train as an officer in the Royal Artillery. He was commissioned in the early summer of 1914. McCall was on leave in Germany on the outbreak of World War I and escaped detention by German authorities. He served with the Royal Artillery and participated in the Balkans theatre, particularly on special duty in the Serbian campaign. His ranks include being a Lieutenant and a Captain Temporary Major. He ended his service with the rank of Major.

Indian Civil Service

In 1921, McCall joined the Indian Civil Service as the only regular soldier in his year to be accepted. He was posted to Bengal where he received further training. He was then posted to the Government of Assam.

In 1928, McCall was appointed President of the Durbar in Manipur State. He held this position until 1931 where he was transferred as the Superintendent of the Lushai Hills District.

Superintedent of the Lushai Hills

The Lushai Hills was described as a pleasant backwater that was underdeveloped and underinvested by the Government of Assam. Little had been done to modernize the region. Due to the inner line and excluded areas designation, outside contacts were also limited. McCall took on a modernisation policy of the Lushai Hills to prepare them for their place as a wider community. McCall designated policies for the Lushai Hills while preserving Lushai customs and traditions. Efforts were made in education, health, hygiene, agriculture and social activities. Due to this, the Assam Government permitted McCall to remain as superintendent in a term far longer than average.

At the onset of World War II and the Japanese occupation of Burma, McCall created the total defense scheme. McCall recognised the Assam government's lack of initiative in defending the borders of the Lushai Hills and used the resources available to arrange a policy himself. McCall rallied the people to the defense of the Lushai Hills. McCall held a special durbar where he explained the total defense scheme through guerilla warfare. McCall stated to the chiefs that he and his wife would remain in the Lushai Hills with them during the war and lead them.

Later life

McCall's services were recognised by being made O.B.E. He retired from the Indian Civil Service and participated in some businesses in Rhodesia. McCall would return to England and reside in Poole. His other commitments were described as photography and writing, including the publishing of his book, Lushai Chrysalis, in 1949. Towards his final days, McCall developed blindness and partial paralysis. He died on 8 May 1978 and was buried in Bournemouth Crematorium and North Cemetery.

Family

McCall married Jean Chrisholm Elliot Scott, who was widowed (formerly Culbard), on 17 October 1924 in Calcutta, India. He had one daughter.

Selected works

• McCall, Anthony Gilchrist (1949). Lushai Chrysalis. London: Luzac.

Sources

• My Heritage Ltd. "India, Marriages, 1792-1948" (Document). Online Database: MyHeritage.com.
• The Times (13 June 1940). "Prayer in Assam". The Times (Letter to the Editor). No. 48641. London, England. p. 7. Retrieved 25 December 2024.

• The Times (12 May 1978). "Major A.G. McCall". The Times (obituary). No. 60299. London, England. p. 18. Retrieved 25 December 2024.