World War I Victoria Cross Recipient, Author. In 1902 he immigrated to Canada at age 14, following the death of his parents. After several years working on his brother's farm, he enrolled at Robertson College, Edmonton, working as a student missionary during his summer breaks. In 1913 he became involved with the Scout movement, and founded his church's first troop. He enlisted as a private in the 51st Infantry Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force in 1915. In 1916 he transferred to the 14th Battalion (The Royal Montreal Regiment) and was sent to France, where he won the Military Medal at Bully-Grenay, near Lens. He was awarded a commission in 1917. He was frequently given scouting duties, and would later write "It was the pure love of adventure that attracted me to scouting". In 1918 he was awarded the Victoria Cross for his part in capturing a German trench block near Vimy Ridge. He leaped over the blockade and killed two German soldiers. His men followed him and the barricade was overcome, and the trench occupied. He was later awarded the Military Cross for leading a battalion in capturing over a hundred enemy soldiers at Cagincourt. He was seriously injured in this action and invalided to England, where he remained for the remainder of the war. While recovering, his portrait was painted by the Canadian war artist Frederick Horsman Varley, and he wrote a book about his war experiences, "Scouting Thrills" (1919). He later published "Making Good, a Story of North-West Canada" (1921), a book for children about ranching in Alberta. He left hospital in 1919, and commanded the Bereau of Information at the Khaki University of Canada in London, an institution which prepared soldiers for civilian life. He retired from the army later in the same year and settled near Brighton, Sussex, where he was killed in a saw mill accident in 1926. His medals and portrait can be seen at the Canadian War Museum, Ottawa, and "La Place George Burdon McKean", Cacnicourt, France and Mount Mckean in the Canadian Rockies are named in his honour.
World War I Victoria Cross Recipient, Author. In 1902 he immigrated to Canada at age 14, following the death of his parents. After several years working on his brother's farm, he enrolled at Robertson College, Edmonton, working as a student missionary during his summer breaks. In 1913 he became involved with the Scout movement, and founded his church's first troop. He enlisted as a private in the 51st Infantry Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force in 1915. In 1916 he transferred to the 14th Battalion (The Royal Montreal Regiment) and was sent to France, where he won the Military Medal at Bully-Grenay, near Lens. He was awarded a commission in 1917. He was frequently given scouting duties, and would later write "It was the pure love of adventure that attracted me to scouting". In 1918 he was awarded the Victoria Cross for his part in capturing a German trench block near Vimy Ridge. He leaped over the blockade and killed two German soldiers. His men followed him and the barricade was overcome, and the trench occupied. He was later awarded the Military Cross for leading a battalion in capturing over a hundred enemy soldiers at Cagincourt. He was seriously injured in this action and invalided to England, where he remained for the remainder of the war. While recovering, his portrait was painted by the Canadian war artist Frederick Horsman Varley, and he wrote a book about his war experiences, "Scouting Thrills" (1919). He later published "Making Good, a Story of North-West Canada" (1921), a book for children about ranching in Alberta. He left hospital in 1919, and commanded the Bereau of Information at the Khaki University of Canada in London, an institution which prepared soldiers for civilian life. He retired from the army later in the same year and settled near Brighton, Sussex, where he was killed in a saw mill accident in 1926. His medals and portrait can be seen at the Canadian War Museum, Ottawa, and "La Place George Burdon McKean", Cacnicourt, France and Mount Mckean in the Canadian Rockies are named in his honour.
Bio by: js
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