McLean, Neil C.

Lance Sergeant

Service Number 790232

Neil was born in Strathroy on February 4th, 1886. He was 29 when he enlisted in the 131st Battalion in New Westminster, B.C. Neil was 5’ 73/4”tall and weighed 160 lbs. had blue eyes and had light brown hair, and had a axe shaped scar on his right ankle. He was married to Alma who lived at 901 St. Andrews Street in New Westminster.

His attestation papers indicated his occupation was a merchant, but they don’t tell us about his parents or family other than his wife. Military documents record that he left Canada from Halifax aboard the SS Coronia on Nov. 1st, 1916 and arrived in England on Nov. 11th, 1916. That same day he was appointed acting Company Quarter Master Sergeant at Shorncliffe, England. He was then placed with the 30th Battalion on Nov. 13th, 1916, and moved to the 37th Battalion on Nov. 26th, 1916. He was appointed acting Battalion Qiarter Master with the 37th Battalion on Dec. 1st 1916. He was transferred to the 64th Battalion on Jan. 8th, 1917, and the 22nd Reserve Battalion on Feb. 14th, 1917. In order to get into action he requested that he be placed back in “the ranks” and thus was moved into the 1st Reserve Battalion and thus into the 47th Overseas Battalion on June 26th, 1917. He was promoted to corporal on Aug. 23rd, 1917 and served in France.

He was killed in action on Jan. 9, 1918, while fighting in the trenches at Avion France. (Further details will be provided when the Canadian government website is updated.)

Neil C. McLean is buried in Sucrerie Cemetery, Ablain-St. Nazaire, France