George McLean is a proud member of the 48th Highlanders. Born in prewar Toronto, George grew up in the 20s and 30s, against the backdrop of the Great Depression. When war came, George hoped to enlist alongside his comrades in the 48th, but his efforts did not come to fruition as George’s eyesight was not strong enough to pass the army medical test. Thwarted in his efforts to serve and to go overseas, George stayed in the 48th and found other ways to become involved. He was involved in a host of training activities during the war, notably at the Long Branch rifle range in Toronto’s west end. George also worked at the Aluminum Company of Canada, doing important war work on behalf of the RCAF. In doing that George also happened to meet his future wife Dorothy. After the war they settled in the city’s west end and raised their family. All the while, George was active in the 48th, where he was a paymaster who rose to the rank of Master Warrant Officer.
We met George courtesy of the 48th and Al Kowalenko, and George is one of several regiment members whose stories appear here. George was interviewed at his home in Milton by Scott Masters and George’s son Bill McLean in August 2018.
