James E. McLean was born in Lethbridge, Alberta on June 24, 1920. In 1939, at the age of 18, he enlisted in the Canadian Army. He achieved the rank of Gunner with the 20th Anti-Tank Battery Royal Canadian Artillery and served for 5 ½ years. He served in Canada, Britain, and Northwest Europe. He was wounded in Belgium. He was awarded the 1939-1945 Star, the France and Germany Star, the Defence Medal, the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal, and the War Medal 1939-1945. After the Second World War he was married in 1949 to his wife Doris. He had seven children and worked for McGavin Bakery. James passed away in 1996.
