Colonel John West McClain was born March 15, 1901, son of Robert W. McClain and Rossetta M. West. While at University of Toronto Schools, was a member of their cadet corps.
Service Record
- April 5, 1922 – Enlisted as a Rifleman in the QOR, D Coy, 2nd Battalion
- April 4, 1923 – Promoted to Corporal
- April 1924 – Appointed Provisional Lieutenant and posted to D Coy, 2nd Battalion
- June 2, 1924 – Confirmed as Lieutenant
- April 1, 1928 – Appointed Acting 2IC C Coy, 2nd Battalion
- May 29, 1929 – Promoted to Captain and appointed 2IC B Coy, 2nd Battalion
- May 7, 1930 – Appointed Adjutant 2nd Battalion
- 1931 – Passed Militia Staff Course
- May 2, 1933 – Appointed to command of D Coy, 2nd Battalion
- May 20, 1940 – Taken on strength, Canadian Army Active Force in militia rank of Captain
- May 1940 – Appointed Adjutant #2 Canadian Infantry Training Centre, Camp Borden
- January 1941 – Appointed General Staff Officer (GSO) III National Defence Headquarters, Ottawa
- October 1941 – Promoted Major and proceeded overseas
- November 1941 – Appointed Administrative Officer, 3rd Canadian Infantry Division Reinforcement Unit, Aldershot
- March 1942 – Appointed Deputy Assistant Adjutant General (DAAG), Canadian Military Headquarters, London
- June 1943 – Promoted Lieutenant Colonel and appointed Vice-President, Officer Cadet Training Unit Selection Board
- May 1944 – Appointed Military Secretary to the General Officer Commanding 1st Canadian Army (General Crerar)
- June 1944 – Proceeded to North West Europe
- February 1945 – Mentioned in Despatches
- April 1945 – Promoted to Colonel
- June 1945 – Created Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) [LG 37172, 12 July 1945, p. 3589]
- July 1945 – Created Commander of the Order of Orange Nassau (Holland) [LG 12 February 1946, p. 1053]
- November 1945 – Struck off strength Canadian Army (Active)
- May 15, 1946 – Appointed Commanding Officer, Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada
- May 18, 1947 – Relinquished command
Colonel McClain died January 21, 1955 in Toronto.
