MacLEAN, Arthur Smith

War
1st World War
Date of Birth
Date Attested
Attested at
London
Rank
Lieutenant
Date of Death
Age at Death
36 years 3 months
Biographical Summary

DIVISIONAL UNIT:     1st Canadian Infantry Division,                                                                                                                                          3rd Infantry Brigade,                                                                                                                                                         13th Battalion  -  Royal Highlanders of Canada                                                                                                               “D” Company                                                                                                                                                                      Canadian Infantry Corps
RESIDENCE:              Seaforth - Ontario
CEMETERY:               Noeux-les-Mines Communal Cemetery – Noeux-les-Mines –                                                                                          Pas de Calais – France II     J     1
SISTER:                      Mrs. Sarah McLean – Seaforth - Ontario                                                                              BROTHER:                 Mr. William MacLean - Edmonton - Alberta                                                                        Personal:                     Height was 5'  9" and his weight was 145 poubds.

Arthur was  raised in the Presbyterian faith at some point was employed as the land agent in Grande Prairie - Alberta and we are not certain if he came back to Ontario to enlist or if he had moved back to Ontario and was working here as a civil servant. He was a member of the 33rd Huron Regiment and in August of 1915 he was given the rank of Lieutenant.                                                                                                                                            Arthur is honoured and remembered on the Honour Roll of McGill University.                                                    Lieutenant MacLean left Canada and arrived in England on March 25, 1916. He transferred to the 13th Battalion and went into France on June 17, 1916 and then joined his unit on June 20, 1916.
On September 5, 1916 he was wounded and admitted to No. 20 General Hospital based at Carmiers with gunshot wounds to his right knee. He was invalided to England on hospital ship Dieppe on September 11, 1916. Then he was admitted to Royal Grays Inn Road on September 13, 1916 leaving on the 26th of September. It is determined he is not yet ready to return to duty but will do so in 6 weeks. In mid December he proceeds back to France and then rejoins his unit in the field on February 17, 1917.                                                                                                          At 4:15 am the enemy brought down a light barrage on our front. At 4:20 am and the enemy threw up two red lights followed by a golden light. At 4:28 am the Brigade machine-gun barrage opened up followed immediately by the Artillery. The advance moved across No Man’s land in perfect order despite the occasional short round from our artillery. There was no fighting taking place in the front line system or Blue Line.
“D” Company on the right found itself too far to the left and the Captain in charge of this Company had been killed by a bursting shell and two other men were very seriously wounded.                                                              Lieutenant MacLean lost his life in action during an attack onto Hill 70 located near Lens. He was seriously wounded during this attack and received wounds to the abdomen from the shrapnel of an enemy shell. His wound was dressed immediately on the field and he was moved to No. 2 Canadian Field Ambulance. His wound were fatal and the medical personnel could not save his life and he died later the dame day.