Clifford Jack McLennan - Lest We Forget

Clifford Jack McLennan was born July 25, 1897 at New Westminster, B.C, although the 1911 census claims he was born in 1900. His father was Jack McLennan who in 1916 was living at Fraser Mills, B.C. The 1911 census shows the rest of the family living in Revelstoke on Third Street. There was mother Bella McLennan who was born April 1872 in Ontario, sister Mabel born 1894 in B.C. and brother Harold born March 1896 in B.C. Harold worked as a CPR machinist.  Although the children were all claimed to be born in B.C. on the 1911 census, the B.C. Archives record of births does not register any of them as being born in B.C.  The B.C. Archives does note that Mabel Mary J. McLennan married David Orr at Revelstoke on December 25, 1912.  It also notes that Harold McLennan married Norah Marrs at Revelstoke on September 24, 1927. The B.C. Archives record of deaths notes that Mabel Mary Jesse Orr died in Victoria on January 6, 1957 at the age of 62.

Clifford Jack McLennan signed his enlistment papers March 13, 1916 at Vancouver. He was either 15 or 18 years old, single, 5’ 8” tall with brown hair and brown eyes. He gave his occupation as teamster. His religious affiliation was Anglican. At the time of his enlistment he was living on 61st Avenue, South Vancouver. He sailed from Halifax on the SS Olympic on November 14, 1916.

Clifford Jack McLennan died August 28, 1917, perhaps during the battle for Hill 70. He was either 17 or 20 years old. At the time of his death he was a Private with the 29th Battalion, Canadian Infantry (British Columbia) Regiment. He was presumed to have died while a prisoner of war at Feldlazarett Leforest. He is buried at the Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery, France.

The name of Clifford McLennan is inscribed on the Courthouse and Cenotaph plaques.