Pvt. Alex McLean #639860 was born Nov 20, 1894 in Clarendon, Frontenac Township. He listed Mathew McLean of Merrickville, ON as his next of kin. He enlisted on March 11, 1916 in Merrickville, ON at the age of 20 and was assigned to the 156th battalion. He was 5’7, 35” chest, 135 lbs, single, blue eyes and brown hair. He listed his occupation as foundry worker and his religion as Church of England. He had scars on his left shin and right big toe. His medals, decorations, plaque and scroll was sent to Mathew McLean of Bishop’s Mills, ON in 1921 and his mother received the Memorial Cross. His pay of $20 per month went to his mother, Mrs. Margaret McLean of Merrickville, ON. His parents later moved to Potsdam, NY after Alex’s death.
Pvt. McLean sailed on the SS Northland from Halifax to Liverpool on Oct. 18, 1916 and was assigned to the 120th reserve battalion. On Jan. 9, 1917, he was assigned back to the 156th reserve battalion. On May 23, 1917, he was assigned to the 2nd battalion and headed to France.
On March 23, 1918, the 2nd battalion was relieved and went to billets and rest. However, instead of receiving two weeks of billets, they were recalled to the front lines four days later. They hastily gathered themselves and marched to Villes de Bois where they encamped in cold, rainy weather as best as they could. They then marched to Dainville where they found the town deserted of inhabitants who quickly left. They made their way to Arras where they relieved the Gordon Highlanders on March 29. It was noted that there were no trenches in this area and they took heavy fire during the relief. As a result, casualties were high with 36 men killed during this action.
Pvt. McLean died on March 29, 1918 in the trenches of Telegraph Hill just south east of Arras while with the 2nd battalion. His parents were told He was buried in the Faubourg d’Amiens Cemetery in Arras, France. The French handed over Arras to Commonwealth forces in the spring of 1916 and the system of tunnels upon which the town is built were used and developed in preparation for the major offensive planned for April 1917. The Commonwealth section of the FAUBOURG D'AMIENS CEMETERY was begun in March 1916, behind the French military cemetery established earlier. It continued to be used by field ambulances and fighting units until November 1918. The cemetery was enlarged after the Armistice when graves were brought in from the battlefields and from two smaller cemeteries in the vicinity. The cemetery contains over 2,650 Commonwealth burials of the First World War, 10 of which are unidentified. His temporary wooden cross is currently located at the Merrickville Legion Branch 245. He is commemorated on page 461 of the Book of Remembrance.
The following was written by his nephew:
Gravemarker – This is a picture of the headstone of Alexander McLean. It replaced the wooden cross that originally marked his grave. Alexander was my father's uncle, although my father never knew him, as he was not born until after Alexander's death. Alexander was one of five children, including Hector, Sadie, Audrey and Mae. Alexander was working on the farm in the fields one day when the military men came and told him he had to go with them to the Great War. He never returned. According to the message my great-grandparents received upon his death, he died when a German grenade landed in the foxhole he was sharing with several other soldiers. On the reverse of this photo is a note that identifies his mother (my great-grandmother McLean) as the author of the poem inscribed at the base of the headstone. Thank you Alexander, for sacrificing so much for all of us.
Pvt. McLean sailed on the SS Northland from Halifax to Liverpool on Oct. 18, 1916 and was assigned to the 120th reserve battalion. On Jan. 9, 1917, he was assigned back to the 156th reserve battalion. On May 23, 1917, he was assigned to the 2nd battalion and headed to France.
On March 23, 1918, the 2nd battalion was relieved and went to billets and rest. However, instead of receiving two weeks of billets, they were recalled to the front lines four days later. They hastily gathered themselves and marched to Villes de Bois where they encamped in cold, rainy weather as best as they could. They then marched to Dainville where they found the town deserted of inhabitants who quickly left. They made their way to Arras where they relieved the Gordon Highlanders on March 29. It was noted that there were no trenches in this area and they took heavy fire during the relief. As a result, casualties were high with 36 men killed during this action.
Pvt. McLean died on March 29, 1918 in the trenches of Telegraph Hill just south east of Arras while with the 2nd battalion. His parents were told He was buried in the Faubourg d’Amiens Cemetery in Arras, France. The French handed over Arras to Commonwealth forces in the spring of 1916 and the system of tunnels upon which the town is built were used and developed in preparation for the major offensive planned for April 1917. The Commonwealth section of the FAUBOURG D'AMIENS CEMETERY was begun in March 1916, behind the French military cemetery established earlier. It continued to be used by field ambulances and fighting units until November 1918. The cemetery was enlarged after the Armistice when graves were brought in from the battlefields and from two smaller cemeteries in the vicinity. The cemetery contains over 2,650 Commonwealth burials of the First World War, 10 of which are unidentified. His temporary wooden cross is currently located at the Merrickville Legion Branch 245. He is commemorated on page 461 of the Book of Remembrance.
The following was written by his nephew:
Gravemarker – This is a picture of the headstone of Alexander McLean. It replaced the wooden cross that originally marked his grave. Alexander was my father's uncle, although my father never knew him, as he was not born until after Alexander's death. Alexander was one of five children, including Hector, Sadie, Audrey and Mae. Alexander was working on the farm in the fields one day when the military men came and told him he had to go with them to the Great War. He never returned. According to the message my great-grandparents received upon his death, he died when a German grenade landed in the foxhole he was sharing with several other soldiers. On the reverse of this photo is a note that identifies his mother (my great-grandmother McLean) as the author of the poem inscribed at the base of the headstone. Thank you Alexander, for sacrificing so much for all of us.