John MACLEAN (from W.A.) 28th batallion

[Ruskie]

I don't think he was married before WW1 as he gives his father  Donald (back in Scotland) as NOK on enlistment.  I guess he may have been separated/divorced. 

Ros, soldiers didn't always name their wives as NOK even if they were married. I've seen it numerous times - even my own grandfather named his father rather than my grandmother as nok. I suppose if the worst happened, the bad news may have been better coming from a relative rather than the army? Just a guess ... 

[rosball]

I didn't realise that Ruskie. 

Well that does give us some more hope of finding direct descendants - either Neil's suggestion or others.   Hmmm but the W.A. McLean and MacLean births with father John seem to stop at 1905 - still limited by this.

cheers,
   Ros

[Essie]

Hi Ros

No parents are named after 1905 in the WA online Birth Index.

Essie

[Dundee]

I don't think he was married before WW1 as he gives his father  Donald (back in Scotland) as NOK on enlistment.  I guess he may have been separated/divorced. 

Ros, soldiers didn't always name their wives as NOK even if they were married. I've seen it numerous times - even my own grandfather named his father rather than my grandmother as nok. I suppose if the worst happened, the bad news may have been better coming from a relative rather than the army? Just a guess ... 

He does also say he is not married when he enlisted, so all that can be deduced is that he was not in any relationship at that time.

I think there were two Olive HEADs - one Olive Jane and one Olive Winifred.

Debra 

[rosball]

Hi Ros

No parents are named after 1905 in the WA online Birth Index.

Essie

Thanks Essie    That makes sense -  I'm a complete idiot  .

cheers,
   Ros

[rosball]

I can see John Donald McLean living with Olive McLean in Fremantle, WA on 1903, 1906 and 1910 electoral rolls and then they either move interstate or split up or ...

So this is promising.

regards,
   Ros

[Neil Todd]

Ros also there were a lot of porkies told in relation to age on enlistment both up and down in WW1 they didn't ask for a BC. They had rules though I think above 17 and below 35 and first enrolements no children or single.

Some medicals were a bit fudged as well!

I am still unsure of this age thingo are you sure of his birth date in Scotland?

Neil

[rosball]

Hi Neil,
   I did try to find his birth record on Scotland's People in the hope of finding a middle name but I couldn't find a birth for a John MacLean with father Donald in Coigach 1883-1885.
   However it is a tiny (beautiful) town with about a dozen families and there is an expert with several webpages who has been tracking all the families from there.   This looks like the relevant census data.

 in 1881
Donald    MacLean      Head         Mar   40      Crofter
Christina    Do        Wife         Mar      27
Alexander    Do        Son                 8      Scholar
Johan        Do        Daur                   7      Do
Donald       Do        Son                 5         Do
Mary         Do        Daur                   4
Bella        Do        Daur                   3
Roderick     Do        Son                   3Mo

and then
in 1891 (with Donald away from home as it says in the notes)

Christina McLean       Head         Mar      40   Crofter's Wife
Johan      Do          Daur         Unm      17   Crofter's Daughter
Donald     Do          Son           Do   15      Scholar
Mary       Do          Daur          Do       11    Do
Bella      Do           Do                    10     Do
Roderick   Do.         Son                 9          Do.
John       Do           Do                 7          Do
Christina  Do          Daur                    5       Do
Annie      Do           Do                     1

which agrees with 1884 birth.
cheers,
   Ros

[gregih]

The medal was found in an old rubbish tip on a farm near Geraldton. There where also some air force medals found in same tin. I have asked the question on Airforce medals (from WW2)under another message but have no luck so far. The Air Force Association say that the numbers where not recorded but there must be some way of tracking the owner! If these medals are linked to John Macleans family as they were found in same place then there may be a better chance of finding relatives. Still havnt heard from Lynn Mclean in Mt Magnet which by the way is only 4hrs from Geraldton about the grave site of "John Mclean". Some of the records were destroyed in a fire and it looks like his were amoungst them.
thanks everyone for your help so far!!