Clyde2/3630 Able Seaman Malcolm MacLean was born in Portree, the son of Donald and Euphemia MacLean. He had left Portree and was working in Glasgow when War broke out in August 1914. He was a member of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve.

When it was realised that the need for seamen was less than the number of the reserves it was decided to form a Royal Naval Division to fight as infantry and Malcolm MacLean volunteered.

He served with the Division in Gallipolli. He returned from there after the evacuation and took part in the Battles of the Somme, serving in the 63rd (RN) Division. It was in the latter stages of this battle on the 13th November 1916 that he was killed in action during the attack on the line between Serre and Beaucourt. His body was never found and he is commemorated on the Theipval Memorial in France.