| Robert McClelland was the son of William and Sarah McClelland. William McClelland and Sarah Mawhinney were married on 29th February 1872 (leap year) in the district of Magherafelt.
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| Robert McClelland was born in the Bellaghy area on born 30th May 1896.
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| Known family: William McClelland, Sarah McClelland, Nancy McClelland (born 21st September 1879), Margaret McClelland (born 13th March 1883), Martin McClelland (born 19th June 1885), Samuel McClelland (born McClelland), Bessie McClelland (born 5th February 1891), Mary McClelland (born 24th May 1893, died 3rd August 1895, age 2), Robert McClelland (born 30th May 1896), George Wallace McClelland (born 22nd August 1899).
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| The 1901 census lists Robert as age 4 living with the family at house 1 in Killyberry, Bellaghy, County Londonderry. His father was a farm labourer and his mother was a housekeeper.
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| The 1911 census lists Robert as age 15 living with the family at house 4 in Edenreagh, Bellaghy.
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| Robert McClelland enlisted in Partick, Scotland. He had been living in Scotstown.
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| Private Robert McClelland was serving with the 9th Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers when he was killed in action at the much fought over Messines Ridge in Belgium on 7th June 1918. He was 21 years old.
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| From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 8th June 1918:
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| MCCLELLAND – In loving memory of our dear brother and uncle, Private Bob McClelland, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, who was killed in action at Messines on 7th June 1917.
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‘One year has passed away since that sad day,
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When one we loved was called away
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God took him home, it was His will
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But in our hearts he liveth still.
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With a simple cross at his head
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He fought and died for Britain
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One of God’s honoured dead.
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Sleep on dear Bobbie as the days roll by,
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No flowers can we lay on the grave where you lie.
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For the broad wide ocean keeps us apart.
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But your smiling face is ever in our heart.’
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| Inserted by his brother and sister-in-law, and his nephew and nieces, 3 Fraserbank Street, Keppochill, Glasgow
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| Private McClelland is buried in Messines Ridge British Cemetery, located ten kilometres south of Ypres. The CWGC record that the cemetery includes those transferred from many other cemeteries in the immediate area.
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| Private McClelland is also commemorated on the Diamond War Memorial in Londonderry, so it must be presumed he lived there for a time. He was the brother-in-law of Charles Duggan, 20 Nailor's Row, Londonderry.
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| The CWGC record Private Robert McClelland as the son of William and Sarah McClelland of Edenreagh, Castledawson, County Londonderry.
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