Année de naissance: 1886

Lieu de naissance: Barra, Scotland, Écosse, Royaume-Uni

Dernière résidence connue: Barra, Scotland, Écosse, Royaume-Uni

Profession: Matelot

Religion: catholique romain

Pays: Australia

Force armée: Australian Imperial Force

Rang: Private

Numéro de service: 7278

Incorporation date: 06/10/1916

Incorporation nom de lieu: Normanton, Queensland, Australia, Australia

Unités:  —  Australian Infantry, 23rd Bn. (Victoria)  (Dernière unité connue)

Date de décès: 02/10/1917

Lieu de décès: Zonnebeke Château Grounds, Belgique

Cause du décès: Killed in action (K.I.A.)

Âge: 31

British War Medal Médaille

Victory Medal Médaille

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/ Sources utilisées

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

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

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

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

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