McLean, William Frances 26374 ( - 1916)

Private, 16th Bn. Highland Light Infantry

Buried at Thiepval Memorial

Commemorated at

William McLean served in the 16th Highland Light Infantry. He was an assistant scoutmaster with the 31st Glasgow Troop; formerly in 27th Glasgow Troop. He was born in Bearsden near Glasgow.

He was killed in action on the first day of the Battle of the Somme. On 1 July 1916, the day which William died, supported by a French attack to the south, thirteen divisions of Commonwealth forces launched an offensive on a line from north of Gommecourt to Maricourt. Despite a preliminary bombardment lasting seven days, the German defences were barely touched and the attack met unexpectedly fierce resistance. Losses were catastrophic and with only minimal advances on the southern flank, the initial attack was a failure. In the following weeks, huge resources of manpower and equipment were deployed in an attempt to exploit the modest successes of the first day.

Memorials: William's body was never recovered and he is remembered at Thiepval Memorial, the Scout Association's Roll of Honour (www.scoutsrecords.org/catalogue.php) and the Scottish National War Memorial in Edinburgh.