McCLINCHEY, Wesley
DIVISIONAL UNIT: 3rd Canadian Infantry Division
9th Infantry Brigade
58th Battalion - Central Ontario
Canadian Infantry Corps
SERVICE NO: 654713
RESIDENCE: Auburn – Ontario
DATE OF BIRTH: November 8, 1894
East Wawanosh Township – County of Huron - Ontario
DATE OF DEATH: November 11, 1917 23 years
MEMORIAL: Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial – Ieper –
West Vlaanderen – Belgium
Panels 18-24 & 26-30
PARENTS: Mr. John and Julia McClinchey – Auburn – Ontario
Occupation: Farmer Religion: Methodist
Enlistment: Clinton – May 29, 1916 – 161st Huron Battalion
Enlistment Age: 21 years 6 months
On November 11, 1916, the 161st Huron Battalion arrived in England. Private McClinchey transferred to the
58th Battalion on November 30, 1916, went overseas into France in early January 1917 and then joined his unit on March 6, 1917.
Private McClinchey was killed one year to the day after arriving overseas in England in action performing his duties while in the trenches north of Passchendaele.
The Battalion on November 11th was located at Capricorn Keep. Wind were from the south-west at 8 mph.
The Battalion was to relieve the 10th Battalion located north of Passchendaele. Relief was completed by 11:30 pm. Disposition was “B” + “C” Companies in the front with “A” + “D” in support.
It must be mentioned at this time that the diaries of the 58th Battalion state that they had NOT suffered any casualties between November 1st and 11th. This leads us to believe that Private McClinchey lost his life on November 12th, 1917.
On November 12th, the winds were south-west at 7 mph. It was warm and bright all day.
The diaries of both the Battalion and Brigade state the enemy artillery was very heavy during the whole of the day.
The casualties were 1 man or ordinary rank being killed and 16 men were wounded. We believe the man killed on this day was Private McClinchey.