McClelland, James
Rifleman
No. 10528, 2nd Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles
Killed in action on Monday 6 August 1917 (aged 17)
No known grave
Commemorated:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium (Panel 40)
Newtownards and District War Memorial
Presbyterian Church in Ireland (PCI) Roll of Honour 1914 – 1919 for
Ballygrainey Presbyterian Church
Presbyterian Church in Ireland (PCI) Roll of Honour 1914 – 1919 for
Greenwell Street Presbyterian Church Newtownards.
BIOGRAPHY
James Gordon was born on 28 February 1900 in the townland of Cottown and he was a son of Annabella Gordon, a seamstress. After his mother married James McClelland, James Gordon used the surname McClelland.
Annabella Gordon and James McClelland were married on 9 October 1901 in Second Newtownards Presbyterian Church. James McClelland, a labourer from Cottown was a son of Robert McClelland, a farmer. Annabella Gordon from Cottown was a daughter of John Gordon, a labourer.
The McClelland family lived in the townland of Cottown before moving to Newtownards.
James and Annabella McClelland (nee Gordon) had at least six children:
Eliza (born 6 August 1902 in Cottown)
Thomas George (born 12 March 1904 in Cottown)
Isabella Oliver (born 14 April 1906 in Cottown)
Eliza, Thomas George and Isabella were baptised in Ballygrainey Presbyterian Church.
John (born 3 December 1907 in Cottown)
Unnamed Male child (born 4 September 1909 in Wallace’s Street, Newtownards; died of debility 4 September 1909 aged 30 minutes)
Annie (born 2 November 1911 in Mark Street, Newtownards)
John and Annie were baptised in Greenwell Street Presbyterian Church Newtownards.
James McClelland was underage when he enlisted in Newtownards and he was 17 years 6 months old when he died. He served with the 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Rifles and he was killed in action on Monday 6 August 1917 during the Third Battle of Ypres. He has no known grave. The 2nd Battalion of the Royal Irish Rifles was in action at Westhoek Ridge on the night of 5 August 1917 and there was an intense German barrage at Chateau Wood. Heavy intermittent shelling continued over the next three days and the Battalion suffered many casualties.
At the time of Rifleman James McClelland’s death, the McClelland family was living at 9 Ann Street, Newtownards.
Rifleman James McClelland (No. 10528) has no known grave and he is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial in Belgium; on Newtownards and District War Memorial; in the Presbyterian Church in Ireland (PCI) Roll of Honour 1914 – 1919 for Ballygrainey Presbyterian Church and in the Presbyterian Church in Ireland (PCI) Roll of Honour 1914 – 1919 for Greenwell Street Presbyterian Church Newtownards.