Geburtsjahr: 1886

Geburtsort: Barra, Scotland, Vereinigtes Königreich, Schottland

Letzter bekannter Wohnsitz: Barra, Scotland, Vereinigtes Königreich, Schottland

Beruf: Seemann

Religion: römisch-katholisch

Land: Australia

Truppe: Australian Imperial Force

Rang: Private

Dienstnummer: 7278

Einberufung datum: 06/10/1916

Einberufung ort: Normanton, Queensland, Australia, Australia

Einheiten:  —  Australian Infantry, 23rd Bn. (Victoria)  (Letzte bekannte Einheit)

Sterbedatum: 02/10/1917

Sterbeort: Zonnebeke Château Grounds, Zonnebeke, Belgien

Todesursache: Im Kampf gefallen

Alter: 31

British War Medal Medaille

Victory Medal Medaille

John McLean, a former seaman, was born in August, 1886 in Barra, Scotland. He was the brother of Jonathon McLean. On October 6, 1916 he enlisted in Normanton, Queensland, Australia and embarked from Melbourne on board HMAT A70 Ballarat on February 19, 1917, with the 24th reinforcement of the 8th Battalion. He later joined the 23rd Battalion, part of the 6th Australian Brigade of the 2nd Australian Division.

The Division participated in the Battle of Broodseinde on the 4th of October 1917, a stage in the Third Battle of Ypres. The attack of the Division was carried by the 6th and 7th Australian Brigades, with the 6th Brigade’s attack led by the 21st and 24th Battalions, and the 23rd Battalion in reserve, providing ammunition carrying- and digging parties. Before the attack, on October 1, 1917 the Battalion was at the front line near Zonnebeke Lake. On October 2, the Battalion was relieved and returned to Anzac House. On that day, the Battalion suffered 8 casualties.

John, aged 31, was killed in action around 5 p.m. on October 2, 1917 after being hit by a shell while holding a strong point. Private McLean was found after the war where he fell, near Zonnebeke Chateau (28.D.28.a.20.25); his remains were exhumed and reinterred at Poelcapelle British Cemetery; Plot LX, Row A, Grave 7.

23rd Battalion Australian Infantry (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), AWM4 23/40/25). https://www.awm.gov.au/ Verwendete Quellen

6th Brigade Australian Infantry (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), AWM4 23/6/26). https://www.awm.gov.au/ Verwendete Quellen

Australian Red Cross Wounded and Missing Enquiry Bureau (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), RCDIG1064166). https://www.awm.gov.au/ Verwendete Quellen

First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920 (National Archives of Australia, Canberra (NAA), B2455). https://www.naa.gov.au/ Verwendete Quellen

Unit embarkation nominal rolls, 1914-18 War (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), AWM8). https://www.awm.gov.au/ Verwendete Quellen

Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/491825

Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/7313070

Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=99db3369-f74e-4e61-99b2-eb508b65b118

The AIF Project (UNSW Canberra) https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=202182