Charles McLean

Bank: Commercial Bank of Scotland

Place of work: Linlithgow branch

Died: 15 November 1941

Charles McLean was born in Linlithgow in 1917, the son of Donald Archibald McLean, a police detective, and his wife Euphemia (Effie) Terris McLean (née Stoddart). He was educated at Linlithgow Academy where he excelled at mathematics and was on the school hockey team. He left school in 1935 to go to work for Commercial Bank of Scotland at its Linlithgow branch. He joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.

On the outbreak of the Second World War, as a member of the RAFVR, McLean was called up on 1 September 1939, although he was not posted for initial training until Christmas 1939. He trained as a navigator. In May 1941, after graduating top of his class as Pilot Officer, he was posted to Coastal Command. On 15 November 1941 he was part of the crew of a Beaufort on patrol from its base at RAF Thorney Island. The plane crashed into the North Sea killing all on board, including Pilot Officer McLean. He was about 24 years old. 

Charles McLean is commemorated on a bank war memorial at Gogarburn campus, Edinburgh.