Eric McClelland‘s attestation suggests no other address for his parents “both solely supported by me” than c/- Shire Hall, Epping. The image shows McClelland’s butcher’s shop and house, High Street, Epping, pictured circa 1900. Family members not identified.
They would have needed little introduction to the area, having been established and in the butchery business for many years prior to Eric’s enlistment. His father was the hall keeper at the Shire offices at Whittlesea when his son enlisted.
McClelland was noted in the Leader as being killed the same day as fellow Epping resident, Matthew James Brophy (included), the article suggesting they enlisted on the same day and were killed exactly a year after enlisting (although the latter should have read “after embarking”) and added he “one of the champions of the Bourke-Evelyn Football Association”.
He was originally listed as wounded with notification forwarded to his parents, but some 18 days later this was altered to “now Killed In Action”, although his commemoration on the Villers-Bretonneaux Memorial confirms his remains were never found.
Link to the history of Eric William McLelland
Link to the history of Matthew James Brophy
Link to ozsportshistory.com downloads for WW1
