McLENNAN, Roderick Ross

Roderick was one of several sons of Roderick and Ellen McLennan of Elsmore NSW. He was a twenty-four-year-old Miner when he enlisted at Inverell in August 1916. At a farewell function at Elsmore School of Arts Hall he was presented with several gifts including a gold inscribed fountain pen from the MUIOOF Lodge, a gold inscribed medal from Elsmore Tin Company employees and a wristwatch from Elsmore citizens.

As a member of the 33rd Battalion, 5th Reinforcement he sailed from Australia for England on SS Port Napier on November 1916. He spent three months at Dorrington Camp until sent to France in April 1917 where the following month he was transferred to the 13th Battalion.

Roderick was wounded in action in August 1917 and again in May 1918 when he was invalided to England with a gunshot wound to his shoulder. He re-joined his unit in France in November 1918 before returning to Australia in 1919 and medically discharged.

During the 1930s Roderick was living and working at Taree, later moving to Brisbane where he died in 1973.

Roderick’s name is recorded on the Elsmore Honor Roll. His brother Harold also served, and both their names are recorded on the Loyal Elsmore MUIOOF Lodge Honor Roll.