McLean, Hugh Charles Hutchinson (Charlie)
Private
No. 301278, ‘B’ Company, 1st/8th Battalion, Princess Louise’s (Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders)
Killed in action on Saturday 17 March 1917 (aged 18)
Buried:
Roclincourt Military Cemetery, France (Grave I. B. 20)
Commemorated:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Newtownards and District War Memorial
Presbyterian Church in Ireland (PCI) Roll of Honour 1914 – 1919 for
Strean Presbyterian Church Newtownards
Brother of Rifleman Duncan McLean (No. 18162)
BIOGRAPHY
In some records his surname is spelt McClean.
Hugh Charles Hutchinson McLean was born on 30 July 1898 in in Balfour Street, Newtownards and baptised in Strean Presbyterian Church Newtownards. He was a son of Peter and Mary McLean (nee Hutchinson, sometimes Hutchenson, sometimes Hutcheson, sometimes Hutchison), both of whom were born in Scotland.
The McLean family lived in Newtownards, in Thomas Street, Clarence Street, Balfour Street and at 13 Mark Street.
Peter McLean held a directorship in the Glen Printing and Finishing Works, Newtownards.
The McLean family moved to Newtownards from Scotland (where at least two of their children, Mary and Duncan, were born).
Peter and Mary McLean had at least nine children:
Mary (born around 1885/1886 in Scotland)
Duncan (born around 1887/1888 in Scotland)
Maggie (born 23 February 1889 in Thomas Street, Newtownards)
John (born 17 May 1890 in Mark Street, Newtownards)
Peter (born 18 February 1892 in Mark Street, Newtownards)
Annie (born 6 October 1893 in Clarence Street, Newtownards)
James Norman (born 13 June 1895 in Balfour Street, Newtownards)
Hugh Charles Hutchinson (born 30 July 1898 in Balfour Street, Newtownards)
Flora McDonald (born 24 August 1901 in Balfour Street, Newtownards)
Prior to the outbreak of the Great War Charlie McLean worked as an apprentice in motor car engineering with Messrs Morrison Brothers Newtownards and then as an apprentice in the Sirocco Works Belfast. He was 18 when he enlisted in Belfast in September 1916.
In a letter dated 30 March 1917 to Private McLean’s mother, Second Lieutenant George M. Warnock of the 8th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders informed her that her youngest son, Private Charles McLean, was missing in action. He described the circumstances. During a British advance on the morning of 17 March Charlie took part in a very successful bombing raid on the enemy’s trenches and since then he had not been seen or heard of. During the raid he was seen doing good work but at roll-call he was found to be missing. His platoon officer and many comrades were killed during the raid and none of the survivors saw him fall. Later his body was found by the party detailed to clear the battlefield.
It was reported in the Press that four McLean brothers served in the Great War. Duncan who was the eldest served with the Royal Irish Rifles, Norman served with the Royal Engineers, Peter served with the Canadian Highlanders and Charlie who was the youngest served with the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders.
Private Charles McLean (no. 301278) was buried in Roclincourt Military Cemetery, France and he is commemorated on Newtownards and District War Memorial and in the Presbyterian Church in Ireland (PCI) Roll of Honour 1914 – 1919 for Strean Presbyterian Church Newtownards.