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Old 17-04-14, 21:57
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Default James McLean

James McLean was born in Campbeltown in Argyll, Scotland, on 6 December 1885. He was the son of Catherine Scott McLean, a farm servant, of Saddell Street. James’s father wasn’t recorded when his birth was registered. Catherine was the youngest and 17th child of petty criminal and grave robber, John McLean.

On 2 August 1887, James’s mother married widower, Duncan McIsaac. She was 26 and he was 46.

Duncan, Catherine, James and children from Duncan’s first marriage lived in the tiny hamlet of Glenbarr on the west coast of Scotland.

1891 census:

Glenbarr

Duncan McIsaac – head – 49 – gardener’s labourer – born Southend
Catherine – wife – 25 – born Campbeltown
Duncan – son – 13 – scholar – born Killean
James McLean – son – 5 – scholar, born Campbeltown

Southend is a small place at the south of the Kintyre peninsula in Scotland not the place in Essex.

1901 census:

Glenbarr

Duncan McIsaac – 61 – general labourer – born Southend
Catherine McIsaac – 34 – wife – born Campbeltown
James McLean – 16 – postman – born Campbeltown
Maggie McIsaac – 12 – scholar – born Killean and Kilkenzie parish
Mary McIsaac – 8 – scholar – born Killean and Kilkenzie parish
Alexander McIsaac – 5 – scholar – born Killean and Kilkenzie Parish
Angus McIsaac – 3 – born Killean and Kilkenzie parish

I find it interesting that James kept McLean as a surname – his mother’s maiden name – never changing it to McIsaac.

James McLean enlisted with the 1/8th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, signing up with them in Glenbarr. His service number was 300053.

Training took place in Bedford before the troops headed for France.

Having risen to the rank of sergeant, James was reported as missing 16 May 1917. He was 30. However, for some time, his family believed that he may have been a prisoner of war. Latterly, they said that he had died as a prisoner of war. There is no evidence to suggest this is true.

The Arras offensive of April-May 1917 saw the loss of many men.

From the A&SH War Diary...

Fampoux 16 May 1917

3am after an intense bombardment, the enemy launched a heavy attack against our front. The line was held and the enemy beaten off with heavy losses, except for a stretch on the left, at the junction with the 17th division where he succeeded in penetrating our lines, and pushed parties along the railway as far as 1BC 3.5. Those parties were at once engaged and destroyed and the chemical works cleared of the enemy. Fifty-one prisoners were captured.

4.30am the 153rd infantry brigade counter attacked and drove the enemy out of the remaining trenches occupied by him. During the operation, Captain M A MacTaggart and 2nd Lieutenant A G Polland were killed. The former having continued to lead his men after having been twice wounded. 2nd Lieutenants A D McIlroy, A R Watson and E D Hendry were wounded and Captain W D Munro and 2nd Lieutenant W Mc N Snadden, T P Johnston and A D Humble missing.

10pm. The battalion was relieved and under bivouacs at M 13 A (near St Laurent-Blagy).

Officers Other ranks
Killed 35
Wounded 3 97
Missing 4 60

James is commemorated on the Arras Memorial – Bay 9. The Arras memorial commemorates almost 35,000 servicemen from the UK, South Africa and New Zealand who died in the Arras sector between the spring of 1917 and August 1918 and have no known grave.

James’s family believed for some time that he was a prisoner of war.

From the Campbeltown Courier:

Missing soldier – friends and acquaintances of Sergeant James McLean, A&SH, son of Mrs McIsaac, Glenbarr village, will be pleased to hear he is confidently believed by members of the platoon to be safe though a prisoner of war. Private Anderson, who is wounded and in hospital in England, writes to say that one of two officers captured at the time wrote to the battalion HQ staff stating that he himself, with Sergeant McLean and others were well. Pte Anderson is ready as soon as opportunity permits to visit Glenbarr and give Mrs McIsaac ample grounds for his confidence and fuller details of the circumstances in which her son and some others were captured at Arras in May last.

Saturday 23 February 1918 – Glenbarr:

As mentioned in this column a fortnight ago, Sgt McLean was reported missing, but is confidently believed by members of his platoon to be a prisoner of war and safe. He was last seen in Arras in May last.

Sgt McLean was one of the best-known young men in the district, and well respected. At the time of mobilisation, he was in service of the post office as a rural postman, first at Glenbarr and then at Tayinloan. He wrought his way up having passed with credit the prescribed post office examination. As a public servant he was most capable and reliable, as a neighbour, he was one of the most obliging of men. He invariably acquitted himself well in whatever he took to hand, and in the coming better days, he will, take his useful place in the ranks of civil life again. His promotion to the rank of sergeant was no surprise to those who knew him well, and had time given the opportunity, he would undoubtedly have risen to still higher rank.

James’s half-brother, Alexander McIsaac, also died in the war. When he was killed, Catherine completed the paperwork for the ministry. In it, she named 32-year-old James as Alexander’s brother (half blood).

I find it poignant that Catherine still hoped her son was alive.
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