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Private William Fitzroyd McClean

 

William Fitzroyd McClean (or McLean) was born on 29 December 1899 at 20 Ponsonby Avenue, Belfast, the third of at least five children of Scottish-born manager (later soap and candle manufacturer) William McLean and his wife Emilie (née Macartney). By the time of the 1911 Census he was living in Clifton Park Avenue with his parents and siblings. They later lived at 32 and 34 Foreman Street.

McLean enlisted in the North Irish Horse between 16 and 18 November 1915 (No.1903 – later Corps of Hussars No.71628). He trained at the regiment's Antrim reserve camp before embarking for France sometime between 1916 and 1918, where he was posted to one of the squadrons of the 1st North Irish Horse Regiment. This regiment served as corps cavalry to VII, XIX, then V Corps from its establishment in May 1916 until February-March 1918, when it was dismounted and converted to a cyclist unit, serving as corps cyclists to V Corps until the end of the war.

McClean remained with the regiment throughout the war. On 10 March 1919 he was demobilised and transferred to Class Z, Army Reserve.

 

McClean's brother Charles William Reginald also served in the war, in the Army Cyclist Corps.