Alexander McLean (MacLEAN)
Year of Birth: 1891
Place of Birth: Laidley, Qld
Date of Enlistment: 29 July 1915
Date and Place of Embarkation: 30 December 1915, Brisbane
Ship: HMAT Itonus
Rank: Private
Unit(s): 7/25 Battalion
Regimental Number: 3165
Died: 29 July 1916
Alexander McLean was born in 1891 in Laidley Qld to John and Isabella McLean. He was the oldest of their 5 children – Jessie (b. 1893), Mary (b. 1894) James and John (b. 1898). John died in 1899.
Alex was a 23 year old labourer when he enlisted on 29 July 1915. He was described as 5 feet 7 inches tall, weighed 164 lbs and had a sandy complexion, grey eyes and dark brown hair. He was Presbyterian. He named his mother, Isabella McLean of Abbott Street, Cairns as his next of kin. His father had recently deserted the family and Mrs McLean had petitioned the Court for maintenance.
The Cairns Post of 24 September 1915 reported his visit home from camp.
He embarked from Brisbane on the “Itonus” and disembarked in Marseilles, Frances on 27 March 1916.
He was taken on strength on 23 April and was reported missing on 29 July 1916.
In the meantime, it was reported in the Cairns Post that his mother, Isabella, had received a letter from Private McGhie informing her that her son was killed “somewhere in France”.
She wrote several letters attempting to get official confirmation. A Court of Enquiry on 20 October 1917 declared him killed in action and he is remembered on the Villers Bretonneux Memorial, Picardie, France.
Online Resources
National Archives of Australia
National Library of Australia: Trove Digitised Newspapers
Queensland Registrar of Births Deaths & Marriages
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