Commemorated: | |||
| 1. Book: | The (1921) Masonic Roll of Honour 1914-1918 | Pg.129 | |
| 2. Memorial: | The (1940) Scroll - WW1 Roll of Honour | 32C GQS | |
| 3. Memorial: | Haidar Pasha Memorial | ||
Awards & Titles: | Military Cross Order of St George Order of the White Eagle 5th Class with swords | ||
Early Life :
Son of Duncan and Harriet McLennan, of "Ridgewood," Lancaster, Ontario, Canada; husband of Harriet Mair McLennan.Service Life:
Campaigns:
- The First World War 1914-1918, World-wide.
- The Russian Civil War 1917-1923, Russia.
| Unit / Ship / Est.: Royal Air Force |
| Action : Battle of Tsaritsyn |
The Battle of Tsaritsyn was a military confrontation between Bolshevik forces and the White Army during the Russian Civil War. It was for control of the significant city and port on the Volga River in southwestern Russia. The battle resulted in a Bolshevik victory.
Detail :
A notice of his death was reported in The Daily British Whig 16th September, 1919: "CAPT. JOHN M'LENNAN KILLED IN ACTION - Had served in France, Greece, Serbia and Southern Russia. - Capt. John Lawrence McLennan M.C., of Lancaster, was killed in action in Southern Russia, according to a cable just received by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Duncan McLennan, "Ridgewood," Lancaster. Capt. McLennan's death took place on August 28th. Born at Glengarry, in 1889, Capt. McLennan was educated at Bishop's College School, Lennoxville, and the Royal Military College, Kingston. In 1911 he received a commission in the Army Service Corps in England. Two weeks after the outbreak of war he accompanied his unit to France and was in the famous retreat from Mons. He served latter in Greece and Serbia, winning the Military Cross and the order of the White Eagle in addition to his Mons Star. In 1918 Capt. McLennan resigned a major's rank to transfer to the R.A.F. He went to southern Russia last May as adjutant of a squadron."
Commonwealth War Graves McLENNAN, Capt. John Lawrence, M.C. Royal Army Service Corps, attd. Royal Air Force. Order of St. George (Russia). Order of the White Eagle 5th Class (Serbia). Killed in action 28th August, 1919. Age 30." Grave is not known (some sources cite Krasnodar Officers' Cemetery) or has been lost, but name is listed on the Haidar Pasha Memorial.
He was killed in Russia at Tsaritsyn attached to the 47th Squadron, Royal Air Force.
A list of fatal accidents to British aircraft overseas 12 Nov 1918 - 1929. available via: http://www.rcawsey.co.uk/Accf1930.htm shows:
28.8.19 D.H.9 E8994, 47 Sqn, Beketovka
Observer hit by ground fire, Tcherni-Yar, Russia
Capt John Lawrence McLennan MC (29) killed (Canadian)
Capt Walter Fraser Anderson unhurt
He is gazetted for a Military Cross on the 3rd June, 1918 London Gazette Issue 30719 Supplementary Page 6506. He is recorded in rank as an Acting Major in the Army Service Corps.
In an article on the Great War Forum by "RFT" it details the following:
Remembering the second of 47 Squadron's south Russia Casualties.
K.I.A. 28th August 1919 (One hundred years ago today). Hon. Captain, John Lawrence McLennan, M.C., R.A.F. Age 29.
At 09.20 hours, 28th August 1919, D.H.9. (E.8994) with Captain Walter F. Anderson (Pilot) and his Observer, Captain John Lawrence McLennan, set off on a bombing raid. As a consequence of a low level attack, which targeted an enemy balloon at Bilklei, Captain Anderson's machine came upon intense rifle fire from the ground and Captain McLennan was mortally wounded in the left leg. Captain Anderson returned to base (Beketovka) at 11.25 by which time Captain McLennan was no longer alive.
Captain McLennan was buried in Krasnodar Officers. Cemetery.
Commemorated on the Haidar Pasha Memorial, Turkey.
Son of Duncan & Harriet Mair McLennan, Ridgwood, Lancaster, Ontario, Canada.
Note: D.H.9, E.8994 also appears in the records as F.8994, - 8994 and D.8994.
Masonic :
| Type | Lodge Name and No. | Province/District : |
|---|---|---|
| Mother : | Pentangle No. 1174 E.C. | East Kent |
| Joined : | Aldershot Army and Navy No. 1971 E.C. | Hampshire & IOW |
Initiated | Passed | Raised |
14th November 1913 | 9th January 1914 | 13th February 1914 |
John was initiated into Pentangle Lodge No. 1174, at Chatham, East Kent. He was a 23 year old Lieutenant in the Army Service Corps, resident in Aldershot. His dues are paid continuously, with one year war service noted in 1920 followed by "Killed in Action Aug 1919." He was not included for this Lodge on the return to Grand Lodge to include him as a war casualty, despite being a member.
Joining member of Aldershot Army & Navy Lodge No. 1971 on 26th February, 1914. He is still listed as a Lieutenant of the Army Service Corps, resident at Aldershot. War Service is shown in the contribution record for 5 years between 1915-1919, before the line is closed out with "Killed in Action 28/8/19."
Source :
The project globally acknowledges the following as sources of information for research across the whole database:
- The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
- The (UK) National Archives
- Ancestry.co.uk - Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History online
- ugle.org.uk - The records of the United Grand Lodge of England including the Library and Museum of Freemasonry
Additional Source:
- Founder Researchers : Paul Masters & Mike McCarthy
- Researcher : Bruce Littley