Jackie McClelland

John "Jackie" Stephen McClelland BEM (14 October 1923 - 13 April 1981) Known as the ‘Man of Courage’^[1] and later described as a ‘Warrior of Peace’^[2] 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 was a member of the wider McClelland family. One with vast contributions to civil duty. These include over 320 years of collective service in firefighting.^[3][4]

He is the father of five firefighters. One of which being the late former Chief Fire Officer of the Northern Ireland Fire Brigade, John McClelland.^[5] Later two grandsons, would upkeep the tradition into the modern era with one still serving today.

McClelland grew up in St Patrick's Avenue, Newry. Son of a World War I veteran. His father, Sergeant Patrick Joseph McClelland was an ‘Old Contemptible,’ a professional soldier and farrier primarily in the Royal Irish Rifles and also the Royal Irish Fusiliers. After a stint in India, he was present at the opening Battle of Mons as part of the original BEF force in France and Flanders. He was also at the First Battle of the Aisne and the Somme ^[6] during the Great War. He had 3 wound stripes and later at the Battle of Passchendaele, captured and held as a prisoner of war. He survived the war and left the army in 1919 after 20 years. From this McClelland inherited his resilience, pride and unwavering commitment to service and would find his own way to serve in the years to come.

By age 17, and the outbreak of World War II. McClelland and his older brother Jimmy were living with relatives In Birmingham, England. Their father was now employed as a munitions officer whilst they found work in a factory when the Blitz began.

There, they both joined a Works Fire Service and would be despatched across the city and nearby Coventry.^[7][8] Two uncles of McClelland's girlfriend and later wife, Robert Campbell and Mickey Linnie being inspiration.^[9]

Upon returning to Northern Ireland, McClelland joined the Auxiliary Fire Serve which was later rebranded the National Fire Service. Stationed at Central Fire Station on Chichester Street in ln Belfast. He would take part responding to a second Blitz and receive the Defence Medal for these contributions.

When the NFS was disbanded he returned to his hometown and to the Newry station where he was reunited 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 legendary firefighting figure Jimmy Heather. He would be married this same year.

His brother fell from a ladder in 1952 whilst labouring for a slater and would leave the organisation in 1954 to migrate to America. Jimmy would die 3 years later when he took a stroke whilst working as a painter on the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.^[10]

In 1950 he was made leading fireman and In 1965, received the 25 year Long Service Medal.^[11] in 1966 he was made Section leader otherwise referred to as Sub Officer. Although he was often referred to as the Fire Chief of Newry. An honorary title such was the respect he garnered.

in the late 50s to 60s McClelland's cousin Paddy McClelland would join the brigade. His length of service is unknown but by 1962 he was living in New York.

in 1971 McClelland would oversee the busiest provincial town fire station anywhere on the Island during which civil unrest broke out following Internment. Newry would burn from riots, mortar strikes and a bombing campaign that was to last for years. Despite being injured on multiple occasions, he vowed to continue. It was said that his experience during the war helped him with his third blitz.

In one week that year it got so bad that the retained crew under his leadership took up voluntary residency on station an effort to curb any response time. By this point they were already on virtually constant alert. Newry was described as being “aflame from end to end.”

Over a period of four days, 10–14 August, over 40 incidents were reported. Many of them major blazes with the number rising to 68 by the end of the week.^[12] With fatigue setting in but still with a willingness to continue, McClelland was ordered to stand down his men by a commanding officer and crews brought in from surrounding areas to relieve his staff.^[13] This would not be the end of the civil unrest, just its peak and a taste of what was to come.

The town of Newry as was many parts of Northern Ireland like a war zone. Streets were barricaded off and inaccessible with a curfew implemented after dark. Gunfire and mortar strikes were not uncommon. On one occasion a landmine struck a fire appliance of which his eldest son, Joe was riding on. An indirect hit meant no fatal injuries for the crew but the fire appliance was destroyed.

In 1972, Section Leader McClelland was awarded a British Empire Medal by Queen Elizabeth II^[14] cited "For his courage, leadership, and devotion to duty." with letters of congratulations coming many organisations far and wide. Most notably from the Queen herself and the London Fire Brigade. McClelland was cited as saying on the front page of the Newry Reporter at the time that the medal was not merely for him but dedicated it to all those that served beside him.^[15]

A year later, during the height of The Troubles, McClelland was severely injured whilst attending a callout in Newtownhamilton on 26 October 1973, when a bomb exploded in O'Malley's furniture store.^[16][17] He lost parts of multiple fingers and several feet of intestine and sustained holes in his bladder and injuries to his leg.^[18][19] 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 McClelland who having been serving as a councillor suggested that the new park that was being developed at the time at Gallows Hill be named Heather Park, after his former mentor.^[20]

In 1979, McClelland travelled to New York in a planned visit where he was introduced to the Commissioner of the New York Fire Department, Augustus Beekman. The men found common ground in talking about their careers and the comparison and similarities between the problems facing the FDNY in regards to the NYC Fire Crisis and what McClelland had faced.^[21]

McClelland paid tribute to the New York's bravest and gifted a plaque which sent over by then serving Chief Fire Officer, George Morrison. The plaque bearing the coat of arms of the NI based organisation. After being given a tour of the museum, fire boats, control rooms and stations, McClelland was awarded a medal acknowledging his legacy and achievements by the world's largest and most famous fire department. He was invited to spend the night at the fire station 159 on Richmond Road and ride along should there be any calls that night. Years later, his son and Chief Fire Officer of the NIFB at the time of the 9/11 attacks would lead an organization wide appeal to collect money for the families of "brothers across the pond," who sadly lost their lives that day.^[22]

In 1981, McClelland died from a combination of the injuries sustained a few years prior and 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." ^[23]

He was a man who wanted lasting peace between Catholic and Protestants, and it was said about him. despite his injuries that would have turned lesser men bitter^[24] that he “was above politics and throughout his life was committed to peace and reconciliation."^[25]

It was reported in the newspaper of the time that McClelland despite knowing he was close to death worked behind scenes to get council matters done before he passed so was his commitment and will to serve the people. In that regard, he was praised to be among Newry's “greatest” citizens.^[26]

As a firefighter his career has been described as legendary.^[27] 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.” ^[28] 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.” ^[29]

The McClelland name in the Newry and Mourne area is synonymous with firefighting.^[30] with over 200 hours of combined service for the surname alone not taking into account other relatives and extended family.

Alexander was a founding member of the original Municipal Volunteer Fire Service.^[31][32] He was secretary of Newry rowing club when approached by the town's commissioner, Mr O’Hagen who had connections to the club. He explained to Alex the need for the town to adapt to a growing risk of fire after two large fires on the same day made headlines and embarrassed the existing private based fire service. The equipment was to be funded by local businessmen.

Captain R.F Magennis who along with 5 other men had transferred from the older brigade joined in a paid capacity. Whilst Alex and 11 others joined in a volunteers, many of which from the rowing club. For his contributions in establishing the new service, Alex was given the rank of 1st Officer.^[33][34]

Jackie's five firefighting sons include, LF/M Joe, CFO John, Marcus, Stephen and WC Raymond. His 6th son, James though not a firefighter himself is father of serving firefighter, Colum McClelland who serves in nearby Warrenpoint. James is also brother in law to firefighter and mountaineer, Terence ‘Banjo’ Bannon.^[35] Jackie's other grandson, Kieran McClelland retired as recently as 2025.^[36]

For a few years after his retirement. A trophy named the McClelland Perpetual 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^[37] and later Warrenpoint in 1977.^[38] The Ave McClelland Perpertual Trophy was handed out to the best cadet in Newry following the death of Jackie's wife as late as 2003.^[39]

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.^[40]

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 at Corry Square, "McClelland Park" was named in his honour.^[41]

Fire Service Summary (Combined 320+ Years)^[42]

1. Alexander McClelland: 1877 – c1900s
2. Mickey Linnie: c1910 – c1940s
3. Robert Campbell: c1910 – 1942
4. Jimmy McClelland: 1940 – 1954
5. Jackie McClelland: 1940 – 1975
6. Paddy McClelland: c1958 – c1961
7. Joe McClelland: 1965 – 1995
8. John McClelland: 1968 – 2002
9. Marcus McClelland: 1973 – 1988
10. Stephen McClelland: 1980 – 1989
11. Raymond McClelland: 1989 – 2022
12. Kieran McClelland: 1994 – 2025
13. Terence Bannon: 2012 – Present
14. Ryan Devlin: 2013 – Present*
15. Colum McClelland: 2024 – Present

*Ryan having served in Newry now serves in the Republic of Ireland