William McLean was a 21-year-old stockman from Ipswich who enlisted in September 1915. A Presbyterian, he played for his church, St Stephens, in the Ipswich and West Moreton competition. He was given special leave from the Enoggera base to play a game for the club soon after his enlistment.
After arriving in England, McLean moved between units before finally being allocated to the 42nd Battalion before leaving for France in November 1916. His service was interrupted during 1916 and 1917 by several bouts of illness including two cases of influenza.
In May 1918 he received a gunshot wound to the hand which required evacuation to England.
McLean was court martialled several times during his service, most regularly for being absent without leave in England. His last infringement saw him absent between July and December 1919, at which point he reported back to the base at Sutton Veny. McLean pleaded guilty to the charge of absenting himself without leave and was sentenced to 60 days detention. Only a portion of the sentence was served, as the balance was remitted on his discharge.
He arrived back in Brisbane in March 1920. McLean suffered from the ongoing effects of gas poisoning after the war. This was a deciding factor when, in March 1923, McLean successfully applied for a permit from the Industrial Magistrate’s Court to be allowed to work for less than award wages.
During the decade he worked for the Ipswich City Council and, it seems, a slaughterhouse for which he held a licence to work. McLean died on 15 December 1937.