Samuel Cameron McCLEAN. B..E.M. Ex Staff Sergeant 22209316 (Battery Quartermaster Sergeant) of 102 (Ulster & Scottish) Air Defence Regiment Royal Artillery (Volunteer) No date of death.
Following information taken from a family tree on Ancestry.uk
Born 27 October 1927 Newtownards to William and Madge Robinson McClean, nee McKenna. Husband of Agnes Baird Stirling.
Died 30 June 1981 aged 52 at Coleraine Territorial Army Centre Londonderry, County Londonderry Northern Ireland, cause unknown.
At rest in Movilla Cemetery Newtownards County Down, Northern Ireland.
The following small extract was found in the following book on page 193. Northern Ireland: An Agony Continued: The British Army and the Troubles 1980–83, reads. “ On the 30th, somewhat lost amidst the violence, terror and murder of the hunger strike aftermath, Sergeant Samuel Cameron McClean (52) of the Royal Artillery died. His cause of death is listed by the MOD as unknown; the author has no further details”.
He is commemorated on the Armed Forces Memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum Alrewas Staffordshire. Born 27 October 1928 died 30 May 1981 aged 52. Sergeant in the Royal Artillery.
Supplement to London Gazette dated 30 December 1978
THE QUEEN has been graciously pleased to approve the award of the British Empire Medal (Military
Division) to the undermentioned British Empire Medal (Military Division) Ministry of Defence (Army Department)
22209313 Staff Sergeant Samuel Cameron McCLEAN, Royal Regiment of Artillery, Territorial and Army Volunteer Reserve.
Citation.
Employed as Battery Quartermaster Sergeant. Period 1948.
Full extract.
SSGT McClean enlisted into R Bty of 247(Ulster) Light Anti Aircraft/Searchlight Regiment, RA (TA) in 1948. He served as a Gun number on the Bofors gun. In 1950 he was selected to represent the Regiment at the Royal Review of the Territorial Army in Hyde Park, London before His Majesty King George VI.
In May 1955 the Territorial Army was re-organised and SSGT McClean, then having risen to the rank of SGT, and wishing to continue his service, transferred to 661 (Ulster) Fd Regt RA (TA). He made the change from Anti-Aircraft Gunnery to Field Gunnery with ease and served in P Battery of the Regiment (based in Newtownards/Bangor, Co Down) as a Detachment Commander. In his new role, he displayed energy, ability and enthusiasm and was without doubt one of the best Detachment Commanders in the Regiment.
In 1966 his abilities were recognised by his promotion to SSGT and he assumed the appointment of BQMS of P Battery at Newtownards.
In 1967 on the reorganisation of the TAVR SSGT McClean joined HQ Battery of 102 Lt AD Regt as the BQMS and has remained in that appointment ever since.
SSGT McClean has also served the TA/TAVR in another role. Since 1957 he has been a civilian employee at Moville Camp, Newtownards, firstly as a Limber Gunner and more recently as a civilian storeman. The advantage of being BQMS and simultaneously civilian storeman have not been lost on him and he has used both posts for the benefit of the Battery.
He is not satisfied only with doing his two jobs, but is willing to turn his hand to any job which is for the advantage of HQ Battery and indeed the Regiment. Tasks which are outside his brief and which he will gladly perform outside normal office hours, such as grass cutting, polishing the Drill Hall floor, acting as caretaker of the building are all pursued with equal enthusiasm.
SSGT McClean’s contribution to HQ Battery of the Regiment is without measure.
Over the past 30 years’ service, during which he has been awarded the Efficiency Medal (T) plus 1st Clasp and the Efficiency Medal (TAVR), SSGT McClean has demonstrated himself to be an excellent soldier who by his personality, ability and knowledge has served the TA/TAVR well and who is an excellent example to younger soldiers.
His BEM award was recommended by
(1) Lieutenant Colonel RND Hornby RA Commanding Officer 102nd (Ulster & Scottish) Air Defence Regiment Royal Artillery (Volunteers) Dated 6 June 1978
(2) Commander 23 Artillery Group (V) dated 9 June 1978 at Chester.
(3) Lt Gen Sir Timothy Creasey. Dated 17 July 1978 at Lisburn.
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