Harold S. McLean
Private First Class Harold S. McLean, Company C, 175th Infantry Regiment, 29th Infantry Division, U.S. Army
Private First Class Harold S. McLean was born in Camden, NJ to Harry S. and Julia J. McLean. The McLean family lived at 628 Pine Street in Camden, NJ for over 25 years. Harold McLean was a graduate of Camden Catholic High School. The McLean family moved to Third and Chapel Avenue in Delaware Township (Cherry Hill), NJ around the time of the war. Harold McLean, who was working as a supervisor for RCA-Victor at the time, remained in Camden until he was drafted.
Harold McLean was drafted in May of 1942. Sent overseas to England on October 1, 1942, he met his brother Joseph in England in December of 1942. He took part in the D-Day invasion, and was killed in action on June 23, 1944 in France, when a mortar shell struck nearby, killing him. He had purchased a silver bracelet made of chain and seven coins in Cornwall UK, and had it sent to his mother by way of a Miss Betty Bateman, whom he knew in England. He was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart.
News of Harold McLean’s death came in early August, 1944. His death was reported in the August 17 edition of the Camden Courier-Post. A mass was held for him on August 19 at the Church of St. Peter and Paul, on Broadway in Camden, NJ. He was survived by his parents, and a brother, Joseph, a gunner’s mate in the Navy at the time.
Harold McLean was brought home after the war. He was buried at Calvary Cemetery in what was then Delaware Township (present day Cherry Hill), NJ, where today he rests next to his parents and brother Joseph, on May 1, 1948.
Harold S. McLean memorial, Calvary Cemetery, Cherry Hill, NJ
Mass to Be Sung for 12 Dead Heroes
Camden Courier-Post —
Service to Take Place Tomorrow at Church Here
A Solemn Requiem High Mass for 12 sons of Newfoundland-American parents who died in the war will be celebrated tomorrow at 8 a. m. at the Church of the Sacred Heart, Broadway and Ferry avenue.
The Mass will be celebrated at the requests of the Newfoundland-American women’s auxiliary headed by Mrs. Agnes V. Kehoe, 1257 Whitman avenue. The men include a Bronze Star winner, the late Harold S. McLean, 20, son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry McLean, Third and Chapel avenue, Merchantville, who was killed in France in June, 1944. He was awarded the decoration posthumously for meritorious service in combat.
One of the first South Jersey men to die in the war was Cpl. Frederick G. Corbett, 21, son of Mr. and Mrs. James E. Corbett, 3725 King avenue, Pennsauken. Corbett was captured near Manila in the Philippines on Dec. 8, 1941. He died in an enemy prison camp in July, 1942. His parents recently were visited by Cpl. Herbert Black, Tutwiler, Miss., who was with Fredrick at the prison camp and assisted him in burial.
Pvt. George D. Flynn, 36, of 38 South Sussex street, Gloucester, died in June, 1944, of wounds received during action in France after 29 months service.
Edward F. Keenan, 312 Broadway, Gloucester, son of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Keenan, was killed in Germany during November, 1944.
Pvt. Joseph V. Moore, 25, whose sister, Margaret, lives at 430 Penn street, was drowned in the Panama Canal.
Pvt. William McDonald, 34, son of Michael McDonald, 1110 Marion street, was killed in August, 1945, in France. His mother, Elizabeth, is living in Newfoundland.
Michael F. Mahoney, 30, son of Mr. and Mrs. James Mahoney, 709 Morgan boulevard, was killed on Tarawa when the bomber of which he was a crew member exploded during a take-off. His widow, Anna, lives at 1234 Jackson street.
Daniel Skain, 19, of 3 Troy avenue, Bellmawr, was lost in October, 1944, when his destroyer was torpedoed in the Pacific.
Young Philomena Flynn will also be remembered in the Mass. S/Sgt. William Mahoney, 26, son of Mrs. Phillip McDonald, 2244 East Monmouth street, was killed on Luzon in May, 1945.
John Keating, 24, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Keating, 2998 Chatham street, was killed in January, 1945, while serving with the Rainbow Division in France.
Vincent Rotchford, 24, of 2994 Chatham street, son of Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Rotchford, was killed while serving with the Army in the Pacific. He was employed at the New York Shipyard.
Cpl. Raymond Welsh, son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Welsh, 2927 Weikel street, was killed in January, 1945, in Germany.
Military Rites Set for Pfc. McLean
Camden Courier-Post —
Military rites will be conducted for Pfc. Harold S. McLean for whom funeral services will be held Saturday.
Solemn requiem High Mass will be celebrated at 9 a. m. in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. Relatives and friends will meet at 8 a. m. in the funeral home of Frank J. Leonard, 1451 Broadway, where friends may also call Friday night. Burial will be in Calvary cemetery.
Harold was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry McLean, who now live at Third and Chapel avenues, Delaware township.
Private McLean was killed in Normandy June 23, 1944, while serving with Company G, 175th Infantry of the 29th Division, at the age of 26. He went into the service in May, 1942, and was sent overseas to England Oct. 1, 1942, as a member of an infantry unit.
Met Brother Abroad
While he was in England he and his brother, Joseph, who is two years younger, and who was a gunner’s mate 3/c in the navy, met in December, 1942. It was the first time since they entered the service they had seen each other. Harold did not have a furlough, his parents said, from the time he entered the service until he went overseas.
The brothers had their picture taken together in England and sent it home to their parents. Joseph, too, is a graduate of Camden Catholic High school, and he was employed by RCA when he entered the navy in August, 1942. Joseph took part in the invasions of Tunisia, Sicily and France. He now is employed by the Curtis Publishing Co., Philadelphia.
Visited Brother’s Grave
After seeing his brother in England, the next time Joseph was to hear anything of him — and he hadn’t had a letter for a long period — Joseph was to find Harold’s grave in the American cemetery in St. Lo, France.
Harold was awarded the bronze cross posthumously for his action in leading his company into St. Lo after all of the company officers were killed. He was returning from St. Lo with his company when he heard a cry for help and found a wounded soldier whom he carried out to hospital aid. He was given a citation for that. He also received the Purple Heart. His Cross and the citations were given to his mother by the War Department. Harold had prepared some coffee for himself and his company when his life was ended by a German mortar shell.
Supervisor at RCA
Born in Camden, Harold lived at 628 Pine street when he went into the army. He was a graduate of Camden Catholic High school and was a supervisor at RCA-Victor before the war. He had received a certificate of achievement for taking special training at the plant and a certificate of merit for suggestions made for work improvement at RCA-Victor.
Harold was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry McLean, who now live at Third and Chapel avenues, Delaware township.
The military ceremonies will be conducted by Camden post 980, VCFW, of which Jerry Haffey is commander. They will provide an honor guard, with colors, a firing squad, bugler and echo. Mrs. Mae E. Gifford, of the ladies auxiliary of Post 980, made the arrangements for the military ceremonies.