Andrew Kenneth MacLean
Andrew Kenneth MacLean
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Andrew Kenneth MacLean was born on february 24,1920, in Ottawa, Ontario, where he spent his life living at 8 Allan street. He attended First Avenue and Glashan schools from 1926 to 1934, before moving to Glebe Collegiate from 1934 to 1940. Known for his confidence and pleasant demeanor, Andrew stood 6 feet and a quarter inch tall, with brown hair and blue eyes. He wore glasses for reading, aside from having measles as a child, he enjoyed good health. During his high school years, he worked as a Saturday clerk at Loblaws Groceries, balancing his responsibilities with a passion for sports, including basketball, hockey, and golf. Raised in a Roman Catholic family by his father, Murdock McKay MacLean, and mother, Edna Cecilia Scriven.Andrew was proud of his family background. His brother, George Murray MacLean, served as a flying officer, reflecting a strong sense of service to his family. Overall, Andrew was recognized for his good character, maturity, and solid education foundation.
Andrew Kenneth Maclean was an unemployed student at the time of his enlistment, July 1st, 1940. McLean was enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force because of his ability to think quickly and the fact he said he wanted to go to college after the war, showing he’s fairly smart and dedicated to learning how to fly a plane.
He most likely enlisted to save for college. His quick thinking and dedication landed him a sergeant as an air observer. As an air observer, he would debrief with pilots for direction, pre-flight checks and procedures, and post-flight checks and procedures. Pre-enlistment, he had no medical history, with his only setback being reading glasses. During the war, he was reported missing but was then found dead on September 10th, 1941.
On September 10th, 1941 Sergeant Andrew Kenneth McLean passed away at the age of 21. A week later on September 17th his living relatives were informed. There is little information on the details of the events leading up to his death however he was reported missing in action briefly before his death was confirmed. His death was due to a fatal injury in Blenheim aircraft T 1811 during operations overseas. The place of death listed is Devonshire Street, Ilfracrombe in England. He was buried a week later in the Heanton Punchardon St. Augustine Churchyard in Devon, United Kingdom. You can find his gravestone there in Row K Joint Grave 1463, it’s shared with his brother, George MacLean who was a Flying Officer for the Royal Canadian Air Force. He passed away January 20th 1945 at the age of 27. Both brothers rest together and their selfless acts will be remembered by the students from Glebe and the community they were a part of.
Primary Source Documents : https://www.veterans.gc.ca/en/remembrance/memorials/canadian-virtual-war-memorial/detail/2441685?Andrew%20Kenneth%20MacLean
Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum. “Maclean, Andrew Kenneth (Sergeant).” Caspir Warplane, 2024, https://caspir.warplane.com/pdoc/pn/600012132/. Accessed 27 October 2024.
Government of Canada. “MACLEAN, ANDREW KENNETH.” Search the collections, 2024, https://recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/Home/Record?app=kia&IdNumber=21755&q=R54115&ecopy=44485_83024005549_0604-00174. Accessed 27 October 2024.
Government of Canada. “Sergeant Andrew Kenneth MacLean.” Canadian Virtual War Memorial, 2024, https://www.veterans.gc.ca/en/remembrance/memorials/canadian-virtual-war-memorial/detail/2441685. Accessed 27 October 2024.
The biographies appearing on this website have been written by students, roughly the same age as the soldiers they are studying, using primary source evidence from Library and Archives Canada, in addition to primary source documents from The Virtual War Memorial on veterans.ca. We welcome any corrections or additions you may have to these biographies.
'If we do preserve it, we honour them, and when we in our turn pass on, we will know that behind us lives a generation of free men and of free women to be the keepers of this great heritage of ours - Canada.'
- Ian A. McPhee, former student at GCI, 1937.
Glebe Collegiate Institute
Ottawa, Ontario
Canada
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