Lieutenant Joseph Andrew Bright McClure

1. Lieutenant, 27th Battalion, Infantry (Army). 1917-04-28 to 1917-08-21
2. Captain (Army). 1917-01-20 to 1917-04-28
3. Captain (Army). 1916-06-01 to 1917-01-20
4. Lieutenant (Army). 1916-01-01 to 1916-06-01
5. Lieutenant, 78th Battalion, Infantry (Army). 1915-10-26 to 1916-01-01
6. Rank unknown, 78th Battalion, Infantry (Army). 1915-07-01 to 1915-10-26

Son of Alexander McClure and Hannah Elizabeth McClure (nee Bright); husband of Gertrude McClure (nee Wallace)

Prior service: 3 years 100 Winnipeg Grenadiers, 3 years Durham Artillery, 12 years Coldstream Guards, and 5 years Winnipeg Grenadiers. Captain McClure's military career includes 12 years with the Coldstream Guards, in which regiment he held the rank of Corporal.

From Letters from the Front, Imperial Bank of Canada

Born 20th July, 1877, at Moxley, Wolverhampton, England. Father, Alexander McClure, Gas Stoker. Educated at Parish School, St. Andrews. Entered the service of the Bank, 8th July, 1912. Enlisted, 1st July, 1915, from Winnipeg branch, in 78th Battalion, with the rank of Lieutenant. Transferred to 100th Battalion, 1st January, 1916. Promoted Captain, 1st June, 1916. Service: The operations round Lens and Hill 70, 1917. Reported Missing (subsequently officially reported Killed in Action) at Hill 70, 21st August, 1917.

Previous to World War 1, served in the 2nd Boer War conflict 1999-1902 in Southern Africa his rank during that conflict was that of Corporal. Later on in his life became a commissioned officer and reach as high as rank of a Captain when WW1 was underway asked to be demoted to a Lt. when enlisted, in order to most likely get orders to ship out faster. He was killed during the battle for Hill 70 leading his men at Vimy Ridge. It was confirmed by eyewitness accounts at the time that he and his men were killed by a bomb of some kind not by Gas or gunfire but officially he was listed as MIA at the time. He was my Great Grandfather died when my late Grandfather was 10 years old. So I never knew him and my Grandfather barely knew him. Received several medals including Queen Victoria Medal with 5 bars, King Edward VII medal 2 bars and King George V medal.

NOTE: The Officer Commanding Captain McClure's Battalion describes the circumstances of his death as follows:

"The last information we got about him was from some of his men who saw him in front, calling out to his men 'Come on,' and in the terrible shelling one could easily be missed. It may be possible that he is a prisoner, but the general belief of both officers and men who knew him, is that he would not be taken prisoner, he was too good a soldier for that. He was indeed a very fine soldier and one of my best officers."