”’John “Jackie” Stephen McClelland”’ [[British Empire Medal|BEM]] (14 October 1923 – 13 April 1981) Known as the ‘Man of Courage’ and later as a ‘Warrior of Peace’ was a firefighter and councillor from [[Newry]], [[Northern Ireland]] who served from 1940 until 1975 after injuries sustained on the job two years prior forced his retirement.
”’John “Jackie” Stephen McClelland”’ [[British Empire Medal|BEM]] (14 October 1923 – 13 April 1981) Known as the ‘Man of Courage’ and later as a ‘Warrior of Peace’ was a firefighter and councillor from [[Newry]], [[Northern Ireland]] who served from 1940 until 1975 after injuries sustained on the job two years prior forced his retirement.
He is a member of the wider McClelland family. One with vast contributions to civil duty. These include over 330 years of collective service in firefighting in a dynasty that stretches back to the foundations of the role in the area. He is the father of five firefighters. One of which being former Chief Fire Officer of the [[Northern Ireland Fire Brigade]][[John McClelland (fire fighter)|John]], <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.4ni.co.uk/northern-ireland-news/9845/northern-ireland-fire-chief-steps-down-after-32-years | title=Northern Ireland fire chief steps down after 32 years }}</<ref><ref> {{cite web | url=https://www.4ni.co.uk/northern-ireland-news/9845/northern-ireland-fire-chief-steps-down-after-32-years | title=Northern Ireland fire chief steps down after 32 years }}</ref> and later two grandsons who would upkeep the tradition.
He is a member of the wider McClelland family. One with vast contributions to civil duty. These include over 330 years of collective service in firefighting in a dynasty that stretches back to the foundations of the role in the area. He is the father of five firefighters. One of which being former Chief Fire Officer of the [[Northern Ireland Fire Brigade]][[John McClelland (fire fighter)|John]], <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.4ni.co.uk/northern-ireland-news/9845/northern-ireland-fire-chief-steps-down-after-32-years | title=Northern Ireland fire chief steps down after 32 years }}</<ref><ref> {{cite web | url=https://www.4ni.co.uk/northern-ireland-news/9845/northern-ireland-fire-chief-steps-down-after-32-years | title=Northern Ireland fire chief steps down after 32 years }}</ref> and later two grandsons who would upkeep the tradition.
== Life ==
== Life ==
|
John Stephen McClelland |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
John Stephen McClelland October 14, 1923 |
| Died | April 13, 1981 (aged 57)
Newry |
| Other names | Jackie, Jack |
| Occupation | Firefighter |
| Political party | Alliance |
John “Jackie” Stephen McClelland BEM (14 October 1923 – 13 April 1981) Known as the ‘Man of Courage’ and later as a ‘Warrior of Peace’ was a firefighter and councillor from Newry, Northern Ireland who served from 1940 until 1975 after injuries sustained on the job two years prior forced his retirement.
He is a member of the wider McClelland family. One with vast contributions to civil duty. These include over 330 years of collective service in firefighting in a dynasty that stretches back to the foundations of the role in the area. He is the father of five firefighters. One of which being former Chief Fire Officer of the Northern Ireland Fire Brigade John McClelland, Cite error: A <ref> tag is missing the closing </ref> (see the help page). and later two grandsons who would upkeep the tradition.
Life
Jackie grew up in St Patrick’s Avenue in Newry. Son of a World War I veteran. He was born into a household shaped by discipline, duty, and sacrifice.
His father, an ‘Old Contemptible’ was a Sergeant primarily in the Royal Irish Rifles was present the Battle of Mons and later the Somme among other skirmishes such Passchendaele where he was taken as a POW.
From this Jackie learned resilience, and unwavering commitment to service and would find his own way to serve.
By age 17, he and his older brother James were working in Birmingham when the German blitz of World War II began. There, they both joined a Works Fire Service and would be despatched in both Birmingham and nearby Coventry.[1] two Uncles of Jackie’s wife, Robert Campbell and Mickey Linney being inspiration. Jackie would earn the Defence medal for this contribution.
Upon returning to Northern Ireland, McClelland joined Auxiliary Fire Serve which was later rebranded National Fire Service. Stationed at Central Fire Station on Chichester Street in Belfast until the National Fire Service was disbanded in 1948.
Returning to his hometown, he joined the Newry Depot reuniting with his brother. The Newry depot was now under the control of the Northern Ireland Fire Authority. Some of his early mentors included Tommy Lyons and Christy Hughes, along with another legendary firefighting figure Jimmy Heather. His brother fell from a ladder in 1952 and would later serve under reduced hours until leaving the organisation in 1954 to migrate to America. Jimmy died 3 years later.
In 1965, McClelland received the Long Service medal [2] and in 1966 made Section leader/Sub Officer Although he never rose higher than this rank, he was often referred to as the Fire Chief of Newry – such was the respect he garnered.
in 1971 Jackie would oversee the busiest provincial fire station in the UK when civil unrest broke out with internment which would see Newry burn from riots, mortar strikes and a bombing campaign. Despite being injured on multiple occasions vowing to continue.
In 1972, McClelland was awarded a British Empire Medal by Queen Elizabeth II[3][4] cited “For his courage, leadership, and devotion to duty.”with letters of congratulations coming from the Queen herself to the head of the London Fire Brigade.
A year later, during the height of The Troubles, Jackie was severely injured whilst attending a callout in Newtownhamilton on 26 October 1973, when a bomb exploded in O’Malley’s furniture store.[5][6] He lost parts of multiple fingers and several feet of intestine and sustained holes in his bladder and injuries to his leg.[7][8] He was forced to retire from active duty, and by 1975 had left the organisation completely.
In 1977, during the centenary celebrating 100 years of firefighting in the Newry area, it was Jackie who had been a recently become a member of the council suggested that the new park that was being developed be named Heather Park after his former mentor.
In 1979, Jackie travelled to New York where he was greeted by the commissioner of the New York Fire Department touring the museum, control rooms and stations and finally he was awarded an inscribed medal.
In 1981, McClelland died from intestinal cancer. On his death, he was described by all parties of the council chambers as “A great servant to the people, both as a Fire Officer and a Councillor but also a Newry man through and through. He was a genuine representative of the working class of Newry and worked tirelessly at great personal cost to improve the quality of life for all his constituents.” A man who “was above politics and throughout his life was committed to peace and reconciliation.”[9]
As a firefighter his career has been described as legendary.[10] He was a man who “constantly applied himself to his duties and had perfected the skills required of a firefighter” with the ability to “read a fire situation with sound judgement and wonderful accuracy.” [11] He was held in high esteem by his superiors and subordinates alike and had been largely responsible for turning Newry into “One of the finest units in the country.”
Legacy
The McClelland name in the Newry and Mourne area is synonymous with firefighting[12] and had been since its inception in 1877,[13][14] with Alexander McClelland being a founding member and among the original 18 firefighters that joined the new brigade. Twelve of which, including Alex, being retained as volunteers, and the other 6, from an older organization, acting in a paid capacity.[15] Alex was 1st Officer under Captain Robert Maginnis.[16]
For a few years after his retirement. A trophy named the McClelland Perpertual Trophy was rewarded to the best kept and most efficient station in the Newry and Mourne Area with Rathfriland first receiving the award in 1976[17] and later Warrenpoint in 1977.[18] The Eva McClelland Perpertual Trophy was handed out to the best cadet in Newry following the death of Jackie’s wife as late as 2003.[19]
Five of Jackie’s six sons went on to serve in the Fire Service. His son, John, was the Chief Fire Officer of the Northern Ireland Fire Brigade from 1996 to 2002.[20] Two of Jackie’s grandsons serve in the organisation as per 2025 bringing a combined total to more than 200 years of collective service.
in the 1990s, Dennison Commercials, a local Volvo dealer that sold and maintained the appliances for the Newry Fire Station commissioned a local artist, Cora Harrington, to paint a set of 3 paintings to be displayed in the fire station representing the different eras of firefighting in the Newry and Mourne area. Sub-Officer McClelland is depicted commanding a blaze in the picture entitled “Troubled Times,” using a reference from an older photo. Two of his granddaughters also make cameo appearances watching on. Coincidentally, one of the other painting’s “Sands Mill”, depicts the great fire of 1910. A.R. Walker’s mill, erected circa 1880, was ironically built on the former site of Robert McClelland’s blacksmith’s forge.[21]
In 2002, a park in Newry on Edward Street, a short distance from both the old and new Fire Station was developed on the location of the defunct RUC base, “McClelland Park” was named in his honour.[22]
