Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

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Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Hugh McLean, known as Lex, was born on 17 March 1882 at Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, the son of Hugh McLean (according to his military record). He may well have been born in 1880 at Newcastle, the youngest son of Hugh and Marion Forrest (née Wilson) McLean. Hugh senior and Marion had married in 1870 in Lanarkshire, Scotland, and went to New South Wales with two sons in the early 1870s. At Newcastle, three daughters (one dying in infancy) and young Hugh were born. Marion died in 1904 and Hugh senior in 1921, survived by two daughters and two sons (William and Hugh), his oldest son having died in 1915. Hugh McLean was probably a labourer at Timaru from about 1908. It appears that he initially attested in October 1914 and served until 17 August 1915 when he was ruled medically unfit (syphilis). He was listed on the 1916 Reserve Rolls – a labourer, care of Crerar, Timaru. When he enlisted again in March 1916, he gave his address as 50 Dowling Street, Dunedin. He noted that he had served with the District Rifles, New South Wales, and with the 2nd Reinforcements for six months. As of 10 March 1916 at Trentham, he was still serving. A labourer, single and Presbyterian, he named his friend as next-of-kin – Robert Crerar, tailor, Arcade, Timaru. His father was also to be advised – Hugh McLean, Hospital Lane, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia. Indeed, Hugh McLean was a baker at Hospital Lane in 1913, his oldest son John also. Private H. McLean embarked with the Otago Infantry Battalion of the 14th Reinforcements, departing from Wellington on 26 June 1916. Casualty List No. 600 recorded that Private H. McLean was wounded on 7 June 1917, the hospital progress report listing his as a not severe case. He was wounded again in the second week of October 1918. Private H. McLean, of Timaru, returned by the “Port Melbourne” (No. 219) which arrived on 9 March 1919. His intended address was the Railway Hotel, Timaru. After four years and 61 days of service, Hugh McLean was discharged on 11 July 1919, being no longer physically fit War Service on account of wounds received in Action. He took up his labouring work, moving to Christchurch in the 1920s and living with his wife Catherine from 1925 at least. Was she Catherine Brown whom he perhaps married in 1930? Hugh (Lex) McLean (13972 late 1st N.Z.E.F.) died on 18 July 1950 at Christchurch, aged 68 years, and was buried in the Soldiers Portion of Ruru Lawn Cemetery, Christchurch. Catherine who died in 1972 was also buried in Ruru Lawn Cemetery. There was no issue of the marriage.

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [11 January 2023]; New South Wales birth indexes [07 March 2023]; NZ & Australian Electoral Rolls (ancestry.com.au) [07 March 2023]; Ruru Cemetery headstone transcription (South Canterbury Branch NZSG Cemetery records) [07 March 2023]; Ruru Cemetery burial record (Christchurch City Council) [07 March 2023]; Sun, 21 June 1917, Timaru Herald, 22 June 1917, 23 October 1918, 28 February 1919, Dominion, 25 February 1919, Press, 19 & 20 July 1950, 24 October 1972 (Papers Past) [11 January 2023; 07 March 2023]; Newcastle Morning Herald, 30 May 1921 (Trove) [07 March 2023]

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