Norman James and Mary Ellen (Harwood)  McLean


Norman married Mary Ellen Harwood 26 December 1912. Mary had been born in Colac on 25 January 1890. Her parents were Thomas Patrick Harwood and Elizabeth Jane Connolly, who were married on 22 April 1889.

Norman and Mary had no children. At the time of his marriage, Norman's occupation was 'spinner', and at his death, his occupation was 'body builder' - I assume this was bodies of motor vehicles, rather than building his own body as the term would mean these days!

Norman died of cerebrospinal meningitis, which he'd had for 8 days, on the 18 December 1941, at Geelong Hospital. His home address was 99 Mcleod St, Geelong West. He was buried on the 20 December grave 93, Presbyterian Section 9, Eastern Cemetery . He was only 56.

Mary followed him the year after on the 13 June 1942, at only 52. She died of the 'Effects of injuries accidentally recieved when knocked down by a military truck' - the verdict of an inquest held by Mr F.G.H. Ritchie J.P, Deputy Coroner, on 30 September 1942. She is buried with Norman.
 
 


 

Edward Finlay McLean 1893-1915


Shrapnel Valley Cemetery, Gallipoli, Turkey.

The upper part of Shrapnel Valley was called Monash Gully (after Sir John Monash, then commanding the 4th Australian Infantry Brigade). The main valley obtained its name from the heavy shelling of it by the Turks on the 26th April, 1915. It was an essential road from the beach upwards. Wells were sunk and water obtained from it in small quantities, on the South side of its lower reaches were camps and depots; and gun positions were made near the mouth of it. The cemetery was made mainly during the occupation, but partly after the Armistice by the concentration of isolated graves in the Valley. There are now nearly 700, 1914-18 war casualties commemorated in this site. Of these, over 80 are unidentified and special tablets are erected to commemorate 21 soldiers from Australia and two from the United Kingdom for whom there is evidence of burial in the cemetery. The cemetery covers an area of 2,824 square metres and the South-East side which borders the gully is enclosed by a concrete retaining wall. Shrapnel Valley (or Shrapnel Gully) runs from the west side of the Lone Pine Plateau, behind Maclagan's Ridge, south-westwards to the sea near Hell Spit (Queensland Point).

Photo and text courtesy gallipoli.gov.au

The Obituary for Finlay on the Gallipoli website reads:

McLEAN, Private, EDWARD FINLAY, 281. 8th Bn. Australian Infantry, A.I.F. Killed in action 29th May 1915. Age 21.
Son of Norman Hector and Jane McLean, of 223 Bellerine St., Geelong, Victoria, Australia. II.E. 13.

( http://www.gallipoli.gov.au/2visiting/shrapnellist.html )

Lest We Forget - Mary and Finlay

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