MCLEAN, William Malcolm
| Service Number: | QX13652 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 1 July 1940, --- qld_ww2_nominal_roll_import.sql: ServiceNumber: QX13652 WW2NR: Y1 EnReg: Name: MCLEAN, William Malcolm DateOfBirth: 28/02/18 NextOfKin: MCLEAN, James Notes: UnitAtEnlistment: EnlistCMF: PayCard: Released: EnlistAIF: 1/07/40 DischargeDate: 27/02/46 Rank: UnitAtDischarge: ImportFile: AIF War import_id: '111054' |
| Last Rank: | Captain |
| Last Unit: | 2nd/3rd Commando Squadron |
| Born: | Ipswich, Queensland, Australia, 28 February 1918 |
| Home Town: | Kangaroo Point, Brisbane, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Brisbane State High School & St. Laurence's College, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
| Occupation: | Clerk |
| Died: | 10 December 1996, aged 78 years, cause of death not yet discovered, place of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: | Brisbane State High School Honour Board |
World War 2 Service
| 1 Jul 1940: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, QX13652, --- qld_ww2_nominal_roll_import.sql: ServiceNumber: QX13652 WW2NR: Y1 EnReg: Name: MCLEAN, William Malcolm DateOfBirth: 28/02/18 NextOfKin: MCLEAN, James Notes: UnitAtEnlistment: EnlistCMF: PayCard: Released: EnlistAIF: 1/07/40 DischargeDate: 27/02/46 Rank: UnitAtDischarge: ImportFile: AIF War import_id: '111054' | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Jun 1941: | Promoted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Lieutenant | |
| 6 Mar 1942: | Involvement Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Lieutenant, QX13652, Marched out to the 17th Field Regiment (Royal Australian Artillery). | |
| 6 Jul 1944: | Transferred Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Lieutenant, 2nd/3rd Commando Squadron, Transferred from 17 Australian Field Regiment to the 2nd/7th Cavalry Commando Regiment, 2nd/3rd Commando Squadron. | |
| 2 Jun 1945: | Involvement Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Lieutenant, QX13652, 2nd/3rd Commando Squadron, Borneo - Operation Oboe May - August 1945 | |
| 27 Jun 1945: | Embarked Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Lieutenant, QX13652, 2nd/3rd Commando Squadron, Embarked at Townsville (Queensland), for Moratai (Indonesia). | |
| 11 Aug 1945: | Promoted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Captain, 2nd/3rd Commando Squadron | |
| 27 Feb 1946: | Embarked Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Captain, QX13652, 2nd/3rd Commando Squadron, Returned to Australia from Moratai. | |
| 20 Mar 1946: | Discharged Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Captain, QX13652, 2nd/3rd Commando Squadron, Discharge; At the 2nd/3rd Australian Commando Squadron. Chermside camp in Brisbane, Queensland. |
Help us honour William Malcolm McLean's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed
William Malcolm MCLEAN (1918-1996)
extract from Australian Dictionary of Biography (see link for full article)
William Malcolm McLean (1918–1996), rugby union footballer and publican, was born on 28 February 1918 at Ipswich, Queensland, fourth child of Queensland-born parents James Douglas McLean (1879–1947), refreshment room manager, and his wife Alice Davis, née Wiencke. Doug McLean had been a pioneering member (1904–05) of the national rugby union team (later, the Wallabies). Bill was educated at Norman Park State School (1925–32), Brisbane State High School (1933), and St Laurence’s College, South Brisbane (1934). From an early age, he showed enthusiasm for and proficiency in both rugby codes, water polo, and surf lifesaving, although rugby union would become his chief sporting love. He played rugby league for Queensland State Schools against New South Wales (1931–32) and A-grade junior rugby union (1933–34).
Giving his occupation as clerk, McLean enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on 1 July 1940. While serving with the artillery, he was commissioned in June 1941 and promoted to temporary captain in May 1942. He reverted to lieutenant at his own request on being posted in January 1944 to the 2/3rd Commando Squadron. The unit saw action at Balikpapan, Borneo, Netherlands East Indies (Indonesia), from the invasion on 1 July 1945 to the Japanese surrender on 15 August. A captain again (August), McLean spent three months from November with the 64th Battalion, occupying Ambon and neighbouring islands. His duties included helping to process some 25,000 Japanese troops for repatriation, earning the respect of a Japanese colonel for his leadership. He transferred to the Reserve of Officers on 28 February 1946 in Brisbane and returned to his work as a draughtsman.
Citation details
Brian F. Stevenson, 'McLean, William Malcolm (1918–1996)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/mclean-william-malcolm-32785/text40776, published online 2024, accessed online 23 September 2025.
Click images to start slideshow.