Jackie McClelland: Difference between revisions
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'''John "Jackie" Stephen McClelland''' [[British Empire Medal|BEM]] (14 October 1923 - 13 April 1981) was a firefighter and councilor from [[Newry]], [[Northern Ireland]] who served from 1940 until |
'''John "Jackie" Stephen McClelland''' [[British Empire Medal|BEM]] (14 October 1923 - 13 April 1981) was a firefighter and councilor from [[Newry]], [[Northern Ireland]] who served from 1940 until 1975. |
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== Life == |
== Life == |
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A son of a |
A son of a [[World War I]] Veteran, McClelland grew up in St Patrick's Avenue of Newry and by the age of 17, he and his older brother James were serving in Coventry and Birmingham during the [[Blitzkrieg|German blitz]] of [[World War II]]. |
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Upon returning to Northern Ireland, McClelland joined the Auxillary Fire Service in Belfast shortly before it was nationalized. Returning to his hometown, he joined the Newry Depot, which was now under the control of the Northern Ireland Fire Authority, and was Section leader as early as his 19th birthday in 1942.<ref>{{Cite news |date=25 November 1942 |title= |work= |
Upon returning to Northern Ireland, McClelland joined the Auxillary Fire Service in Belfast shortly before it was nationalized. Returning to his hometown, he joined the Newry Depot, which was now under the control of the Northern Ireland Fire Authority, and was Section leader as early as his 19th birthday in 1942.<ref>{{Cite news |date=25 November 1942 |title=Newry Fire Outbreak |work=Frontier Sentinel}}</ref> Sometime in the 1960s, he was made Sub Officer of Newry Station and later fire Chief of Newry. |
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In 1972, McClelland was awarded a [[British Empire Medal]] by [[Queen Elizabeth II]] cited "For his courage, leadership and devotion to duty |
In 1965 McClelland recieved a Long Service medal <ref>{{Cite news |date=19 March 1965 |title=7 Firemen get medals at Lisburn |work=Belfast Telegraph}}</ref> and 1972, McClelland was awarded a [[British Empire Medal]] by [[Queen Elizabeth II]] <ref>{{Cite news |date=3 June 1972 |title=Awards |work=Belfast Telegraph}}</ref> cited "For his courage, leadership, and devotion to duty." |
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A year later, McClelland was severely injured whilst attending a callout in [[Newtownhamilton]] on 26 October 1973, when a bomb exploded in O'Malley's furniture store.<ref> |
A year later, during the height of [[The Troubles]], McClelland was severely injured whilst attending a callout in [[Newtownhamilton]] on 26 October 1973, when a bomb exploded in O'Malley's furniture store. <ref>{{Cite news |date=27 October 1973|title= Fireman serious after blast |work=Ireland's Saturday Night}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite news |date=27 October 1973|title=4 firemen and soldier hurt in blast |work=The Belfast Telegraph Telegraph}}</ref> He lost parts of multiple fingers and several feet of intestine, and sustained holes in his bladder and injuries to his leg.<ref>"Sir, They're taking the kids indoors" by Ken Wharton.</ref><ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vP6I02fLz8</ref> He was forced to retire from active duty and by 1975 had left the organization completely. |
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[[File:Jackie newtownhamilton.jpg|thumb|Jackie in the aftermath of the explosion in Newtownhamilton 1973]] |
[[File:Jackie newtownhamilton.jpg|thumb|Jackie in the aftermath of the explosion in Newtownhamilton 1973]] |
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In 1981, Jackie died from intestinal cancer. On his death he was described by all parties of the council chambers as "A great servant to the people, both as a Fire Officer and a Councillor but also a Newry man through and through. He was a genuine representative of the working class of Newry and worked tirelessly at great personal cost to improve the quality of life for all his constituents." A man who "throughout his life was committed to peace and reconcillation." <ref>{{Cite news |date=10 February 1999 |title=Public park to be named after Newry's legendary firefighter |work=The Newry Democrat}}</ref> |
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In 1981, Jackie died from intestinal cancer. |
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== Legacy == |
== Legacy == |
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The McClelland name in the Newry and Mourne area is synonymous with firefighting. Five of McClellands six sons went on to serve in the Fire Service, along with |
The McClelland name in the Newry and Mourne area is synonymous with firefighting.<ref>https://newrycathedralparish.org/2022/12/06/tribute-to-the-late-deacon-john-mcclellan/</ref> Five of McClellands six sons went on to serve in the Fire Service, along with two grandsons. His son, also John, was the Chief Fire Officer of the [[Northern Ireland Fire Brigade]] from 1996-2002. <ref>https://www.4ni.co.uk/northern-ireland-news/9845/northern-ireland-fire-chief-steps-down-after-32-years</ref> |
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⚫ | In 2002 A park in Newry on Edward Street, a short distance from both the old and new Fire Station was developed on the location of the old [[Royal Ulster Constabulary|RUC]] base, "McClelland Park" was named in his honour.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2002-06-08 |title=Community park opened |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/community-park-opened/28131490.html |access-date=2024-01-08 |work=BelfastTelegraph.co.uk |language=en-GB |issn=0307-1235}}</ref> |
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⚫ | In 2002 A park in Newry on Edward Street was developed on the location of the old [[Royal Ulster Constabulary|RUC]] base, "McClelland Park" was named in his honour.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2002-06-08 |title=Community park opened |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/community-park-opened/28131490.html |access-date=2024-01-08 |work=BelfastTelegraph.co.uk |language=en-GB |issn=0307-1235}}</ref> |
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==References== |
==References== |
Revision as of 11:41, 9 January 2024
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John Stephen McClelland | |
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File:Jackie McClelland Portrait.jpg | |
Born | John Stephen McClelland October 14, 1923 |
Died | April 13, 1981 Newry | (aged 57)
Other names | Jackie McClelland |
Occupation | Firefighter |
Political party | Alliance |
Children | 6 |
Parent(s) | Patrick J McClelland, Katie Trainor |
John "Jackie" Stephen McClelland BEM (14 October 1923 - 13 April 1981) was a firefighter and councilor from Newry, Northern Ireland who served from 1940 until 1975.
Life
A son of a World War I Veteran, McClelland grew up in St Patrick's Avenue of Newry and by the age of 17, he and his older brother James were serving in Coventry and Birmingham during the German blitz of World War II.
Upon returning to Northern Ireland, McClelland joined the Auxillary Fire Service in Belfast shortly before it was nationalized. Returning to his hometown, he joined the Newry Depot, which was now under the control of the Northern Ireland Fire Authority, and was Section leader as early as his 19th birthday in 1942.[1] Sometime in the 1960s, he was made Sub Officer of Newry Station and later fire Chief of Newry.
In 1965 McClelland recieved a Long Service medal [2] and 1972, McClelland was awarded a British Empire Medal by Queen Elizabeth II [3] cited "For his courage, leadership, and devotion to duty."
A year later, during the height of The Troubles, McClelland was severely injured whilst attending a callout in Newtownhamilton on 26 October 1973, when a bomb exploded in O'Malley's furniture store. [4] [5] He lost parts of multiple fingers and several feet of intestine, and sustained holes in his bladder and injuries to his leg.[6][7] He was forced to retire from active duty and by 1975 had left the organization completely.
In 1981, Jackie died from intestinal cancer. On his death he was described by all parties of the council chambers as "A great servant to the people, both as a Fire Officer and a Councillor but also a Newry man through and through. He was a genuine representative of the working class of Newry and worked tirelessly at great personal cost to improve the quality of life for all his constituents." A man who "throughout his life was committed to peace and reconcillation." [8]
Legacy
The McClelland name in the Newry and Mourne area is synonymous with firefighting.[9] Five of McClellands six sons went on to serve in the Fire Service, along with two grandsons. His son, also John, was the Chief Fire Officer of the Northern Ireland Fire Brigade from 1996-2002. [10]
In 2002 A park in Newry on Edward Street, a short distance from both the old and new Fire Station was developed on the location of the old RUC base, "McClelland Park" was named in his honour.[11]
References
- ^ "Newry Fire Outbreak". Frontier Sentinel. 25 November 1942.
- ^ "7 Firemen get medals at Lisburn". Belfast Telegraph. 19 March 1965.
- ^ "Awards". Belfast Telegraph. 3 June 1972.
- ^ "Fireman serious after blast". Ireland's Saturday Night. 27 October 1973.
- ^ "4 firemen and soldier hurt in blast". The Belfast Telegraph Telegraph. 27 October 1973.
- ^ "Sir, They're taking the kids indoors" by Ken Wharton.
- ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vP6I02fLz8
- ^ "Public park to be named after Newry's legendary firefighter". The Newry Democrat. 10 February 1999.
- ^ https://newrycathedralparish.org/2022/12/06/tribute-to-the-late-deacon-john-mcclellan/
- ^ https://www.4ni.co.uk/northern-ireland-news/9845/northern-ireland-fire-chief-steps-down-after-32-years
- ^ "Community park opened". BelfastTelegraph.co.uk. 2002-06-08. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2024-01-08.