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Private Joseph James McClelland
Description
TitlePrivate Joseph James McClellandSummaryA soldier in World War One. DescriptionJoseph was born at Leeston on 18 July 1887, son of James and Mary Jane McClelland. Before enlisting he was farming at Brookside, where he was held in high regard. He was married to Caroline nee Stephens in 1915 and they had one child. He had previous military experience with Ellesmere Guards. He was 5ft 11in tall with a fair complexion, grey eyes and brown hair.
Joseph enlisted at Christchurch on 12 March 1917 and was assigned to 28th Reinforcements, F Company. He embarked on 14 July 1917 on board the Waitemata from Wellington and arrived in Plymouth on 24 September 1917 marching into Sling Camp on the same day. From there he was admitted to No.4 New Zealand General Hospital at Walton on Thames on 18th October with Influenza, he was transferred to the Convalescent Hospital at Hornchurch on 6th November. He was finally well enough for service again and sent back to Sling Camp on 13th January 1918. Heleft for France on 20 March 1918 and four days later was attached to the strength at Etaples. He joined the 2nd New Zealand Entrenching Battalion in the field on 28 March. The Entrenching Battalions served two purposes, a pool into which reinforcements and returning soldiers were held in reserve and a force to carry out construction of rear defences, road formation and repair, tunnelling, cable-laying. On 11th April he was transferred to the 2nd Battalion Canterbury Regiment. He was still with them three months later when he was killed in action on 17 July aged 31. The Division was in action around Hebuterne and repulsed a German attack. He was buried in Gommescourt Cemetery. In New Zealand Joseph is remembered on the Irwell Plaque of the Ellesmere County War Memorial.
Foncquevillers was in British hands in 1915 and 1916. On 1 July 1916, Gommecourt Wood was attacked by the 46th (North Midland) Division, and the Southern part of the village by the 56th (London) Division. The attack met with temporary success, but could not be sustained; and Gommecourt remained a salient in the German line until 27 February 1917, when it was evacuated. It was never retaken by the Germans; at the end of their offensive of March 1918, it was just within the British lines. Gommecourt Wood New Cemetery was made, after the Armistice, when graves were brought in from the battlefields of July 1916, March 1917, and March, April and August 1918, and from certain smaller burial grounds, including: Gommecourt Chateau Cemetery, at the North-East corner of the Chateau park, begun by the Germans. Here were buried 55 soldiers from New Zealand, who fell in July and August, 1918,First NameJoseph JamesLast NameMcClellandFamilySon of James and Mary Jane McClellandMarried to Caroline nee StephensDate of Birth18 July 1887Place of BirthLeestonDate of Death17 July 1918Place of DeathFranceCause of DeathKilled in actionAge at Death31
Joseph enlisted at Christchurch on 12 March 1917 and was assigned to 28th Reinforcements, F Company. He embarked on 14 July 1917 on board the Waitemata from Wellington and arrived in Plymouth on 24 September 1917 marching into Sling Camp on the same day. From there he was admitted to No.4 New Zealand General Hospital at Walton on Thames on 18th October with Influenza, he was transferred to the Convalescent Hospital at Hornchurch on 6th November. He was finally well enough for service again and sent back to Sling Camp on 13th January 1918. Heleft for France on 20 March 1918 and four days later was attached to the strength at Etaples. He joined the 2nd New Zealand Entrenching Battalion in the field on 28 March. The Entrenching Battalions served two purposes, a pool into which reinforcements and returning soldiers were held in reserve and a force to carry out construction of rear defences, road formation and repair, tunnelling, cable-laying. On 11th April he was transferred to the 2nd Battalion Canterbury Regiment. He was still with them three months later when he was killed in action on 17 July aged 31. The Division was in action around Hebuterne and repulsed a German attack. He was buried in Gommescourt Cemetery. In New Zealand Joseph is remembered on the Irwell Plaque of the Ellesmere County War Memorial.
Foncquevillers was in British hands in 1915 and 1916. On 1 July 1916, Gommecourt Wood was attacked by the 46th (North Midland) Division, and the Southern part of the village by the 56th (London) Division. The attack met with temporary success, but could not be sustained; and Gommecourt remained a salient in the German line until 27 February 1917, when it was evacuated. It was never retaken by the Germans; at the end of their offensive of March 1918, it was just within the British lines. Gommecourt Wood New Cemetery was made, after the Armistice, when graves were brought in from the battlefields of July 1916, March 1917, and March, April and August 1918, and from certain smaller burial grounds, including: Gommecourt Chateau Cemetery, at the North-East corner of the Chateau park, begun by the Germans. Here were buried 55 soldiers from New Zealand, who fell in July and August, 1918,First NameJoseph JamesLast NameMcClellandFamilySon of James and Mary Jane McClellandMarried to Caroline nee StephensDate of Birth18 July 1887Place of BirthLeestonDate of Death17 July 1918Place of DeathFranceCause of DeathKilled in actionAge at Death31
Connections
CollectionSoldiers of Selwyn World War OneImageLeeston and Ellesmere County War MemorialMore InformationAuckland War Memorial Cenotaph
Military Service
Memorial or CemeteryGommescourt CemeteryEllesmere County War Memorial Regiment or ServiceCanterbury Infantry Regiment Enlistment Details12th March 1917 at ChristchurchService Number53931Embarkation14th July 1917Place of EmbarkationWellington TransportWaitemataReinforcement28th ReinforcementsCountryNew Zealand
Attribution
Researched ByL. M. Seaton
Private Joseph James McClelland. Selwyn Stories, accessed 12/05/2026, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/248