John Donald (Rory) McLennan - Lest We Forget

John Donald (Rory) McLennan was born January 6, 1880 at River Denys Nova Scotia. He was the son of Allan and Margaret McLennan and the husband of Georgina G. McLennan. In 1916 he was working as a railway conductor at Field.

John Donald McLennan signed his enlistment papers on May 30, 1916 at Kamloops, B.C. He was 36 years old, married, with some military experience with the 102nd RMR. He was 6 feet tall, an uncommon height at that time. He enlisted as a Lieutenant. He sailed for England on the SS Maurentania on October 25, 2016, arriving there on October 31.

John Donald (Rory) McLennan died on April 9, 1917 at Vimy Ridge. He was 37 years old. At the time of his death he was a Lieutenant with the 72nd Battalion, Canadian Infantry (British Columbia) Regiment. He is buried at the Givenchy–En–Gohelle Canadian Cemetery.

The Review of June 7, 1917 carried this item on the death of Rory McLennan.

            “Rory McLennan Killed in Action:  Hundreds of friends throughout B.C. will learn with the deepest regret of the death of Lieutenant John Donald (Rory) McLennan, who left Vernon in October of last year and who was mortally wounded at Vimy Ridge on April 9, dying before the stretcher bearers reached the dressing station. The late Lieut. McLennan was born at River Denys, N.S. At the age of 17 he left his home for the Pacific coast, and has almost ever since been with the C.P.R., holding several responsible positions with that company.

            "The late Lieut. McLennan was sent as a representative from the city of Revelstoke to the coronation of King Edward VII, an honor which he modestly accepted and creditably filled, being one of the winners of the international tug-of-war team when the Canadians won the world's championship. Since going to France he was the captain of a winning team on two occasions. An athlete of outstanding ability, Lieut. McLennan, or as he was more familiarly known, "Rory", was always a leading spirit in the organization of field sports. In 1903 he carried off the Maxwell gold medal as champion wrestler of the coast, besides holding the title for the maritime provinces. 

           "In November 1908, he married Miss Georgina Urquhart of Courtenay, Vancouver Island, who with four children, survive him. His death cast hundreds of friends and relatives under the shadow of a great loss. A devoted husband and father, a true, noble son and brother, an esteemed friend and a loyal soldier, with a heart as big as his great manly body, Lieutenant McLennan was universally loved and few will be more missed by his friends.”

The name of Rory McLennan is not listed on either the Courthouse or Cenotaph plaques in Revelstoke. He is included in this memorial because he worked out of Revelstoke for several years.

CPR Champion Tug-of-war team, 1906. John Donald (Rory) McLennan is on the right in the front row. RMA-P63