John McLennan was born in Clarendon and was a Farmer by trade when he enlisted from Ballarat in the 39th Battalion, 3rd Reinforcement on 8 June 1916 at the age of 32. His unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A9 Shropshire on 25 September 1916. Almost as soon as he arrived he was hospitalised with a persistent illness, but by April 1917 he was able to join the 39th Battalion in France. In August he faced the unusual charge of æconduct to the prejudice of good order and military discipline in that he at Fanguenbergues on 24/8/17 entered certain land and took there from unthreshed wheat without authority' for which he forfeited one day's pay. On July 15th 1918 he was wounded in action, suffering a gunshot wound to his right shoulder. He was evacuated to hospital in England where it was determined he should return home. When the Armistice was signed he was already on his way to Australia where he was discharged as æmedically unfit.'
Tree No. 2438