MCLEAN, Alexander Leslie
| Service Number: | 3200 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 9 July 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 60th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Geelong, Victoria, Australia, 1895 |
| Home Town: | Geelong, Greater Geelong, Victoria |
| Schooling: | State School Geelong, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation: | Shop Assistant |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France, 19 July 1916 |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, South Melbourne Great War Roll of Honor, V.C. Corner Australian Cemetery Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 9 Jul 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3200, Depot Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 18 Nov 1915: | Involvement Private, 3200, 21st Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '13' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Wiltshire embarkation_ship_number: A18 public_note: '' | |
| 18 Nov 1915: | Embarked Private, 3200, 21st Infantry Battalion, HMAT Wiltshire, Melbourne | |
| 19 Jul 1916: | Involvement Private, 3200, 60th Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 3200 awm_unit: 60th Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1916-07-19 | |
| Date unknown: | Involvement 60th Infantry Battalion, Fromelles (Fleurbaix) |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Brother killed in action the same day, father RTA December 1917 "family reasons"
3202 Private Alexander Mclean 60th Battalion AIF of Geelong Victoria enlisted alongside his two sons when he was 45 years of age. The boys, 3200 Private Alexander McLean and 3209 Private Victor Henry Mclean were also both in the 60th Battalion aged 18 and 21 respectively. All three left Australia in the same unit and same ship during November 1915, and all three were part of the disaster which befell the 60th Battalion at Fromelles in July 1916. Both sons were killed in action on the 19 July 1916, taking part in the charge. Nothing was ever found of their bodies, and in the Red Cross files 1593 Private A Wyatt stated that “A. McLean and V. McLean are brothers. They were both killed the same day. They have a father who is in the Bn also: he knows they are both dead.”
In the NAA file of Victor Henry McLean, a survivor stated “I knew McLean personally and saw him dead on the evening of 20th July in No-Man's-Land, Fleurbaix. He was lying in a Sap. It looked as though he had been crawling back, and had got mortally wounded before getting back. He was in the Charge.”
Both brothers are remembered on Panel 21 of the VC Corner Australian Cemetery Memorial, Fromelles, France.
The boys’ father 3202 Private Alexander McLean 60th Bn, was also reported missing 19 July 1916, later confirmed still with unit, seemingly confused with his own sons. On August 30 1917, Thomas Trumble the Acting Secretary of the Department of Defence, forwarded this letter to AIF HQ.
“The following copy of a communication which has been received in this Department is referred to you for consideration and favor of report please: - “Excuse the liberty I am taking in writing to you. I will state my case and leave it for you to judge. It is now close on two years since my husband and two sons enlisted. They sailed together and were in the same Battalion up till the 19 July of last year, in which I lost my sons, one missing and the other killed. My husband has never been the same in health since that awful day and after being in the trenches last year. He has been before 4 or 5 boards and marked unfit, still they keep him there, although he has been put at H.Q. carrying letters etc. I think he has done his bit, and after losing two good sons as Captain Kerr says whom any mother can be proud of, I wish to ask you if you can do anything for me in returning him before another winter sets in, he now being unfit. His age was 47 last month. Late of the 60th Battalion, now No.3202 Private A. McLean with HDQ, 3rd Division AIF, abroad.”
The father, Private Alexander McLean was promptly returned to Australia in December 1917, his file stamped “family reasons”.
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