| Rank | Private |
| Service # | 401718 |
| Resident | Tilbury |
Regimental number: 401718 Reference: RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 5830 – 17 Date of Birth 12/06/1884 at Tilbury, ON. N of K: Ethel Macklim of North Bay, ON. wife. A moulder. Attestation 31/03/1915 to 33rd Bn. going overseas in August 1915 with the 2nd Contingent, joining the 10th Bn. in which he served until August of 1916 when he was sent back to England decorated with the Distinguished Conduct Medal and recommended for a commission. He returned to France and was seriously injured loosing the sight in one eye and the bridge of his nose. It was while he was hospitalized that he put his talents to good advantage developing an idea for a new hand grenade, which the British government purchased from him for 20,000 pounds sterling. After he recovered he was promoted to the rank of Captain and then Major posted to the Munitions Department as advisor to Lords Niece and Moulton. Tilbury Times 23/12/15. Rita Lobzun Collection.
In 1917 “Major” Macklem may not be what he presented himself as.
The Tilbury Times, Thursday
22 November, 1917
L. Macklem Admits He Is Not a Colonel.
L. Macklem has finally admitted that he had no right to pose as a colonel. He now confesses he was not entitled to wear a uniform of a staff officer, in which he masqueraded in the old country, Ottawa, Toronto, Washington and Detroit, it was all a mistake, as he did not hold a commission in any branch of His Majesty’s service.
All Macklem’s bravado has vanished. He dropped the mask of military Pretensions. His gorgeous uniform remains only as a memory of days that are gone. His only rank is that of a discharged Private. Up to Friday Macklem was styling himself as a Colonel and had Lieut. E. M. Roberts of the Royal Flying Corps, who is back on leave vouch for him, as Roberts saw Macklem in London, England dressed as a Colonel.
In the same paper was the following:
Signs Statement
A few hours later, after being interrogated by P. J. Moran, Reserve Officer, who went overseas a Lieutenant with the 99th , Macklem was obliged to admit that he had been faking as an officer, at 6:30 p.m. he signed the following statement in the Crawford house.
“I. O. L. Macklem, in the presence of witness, beg to make the following statement relating to the wearing of His Majesty’s uniform. I find that I am not entitled to the same and have made mistakes in wearing it. I further desire to state that I do not hold a commission in any branch of His Majesty’s service. My object in making this statement is to say myself right and to clear the army of any stigma that may be attached to it by wearing an unauthorized uniform.”
Signed: O. L. Mackle
Witness: Chas. L. Baker
J. Moran, R of O.
Macklem’s story as reported in the Tilbury Times of 23/12/1915 bears little resemblance to the fact that it came out in 1917. The article that contains the information above goes on:
Macklem’s Story.
Much of the Macklem mystery has been cleared up. His story is that after he was wounded he was sent to an English hospital, where a ward was maintained by Mrs. Charles Neish, through whom he became acquainted with Lord and Lady Maitland. They in turn introduced him to the elite of England. Several persons of prominence became interested in his invention, [the new hand grenade] but he could make little or no progress as a private. His ‘Backers as he calls them, simply told him that he must become a Colonel. Accepting their advice, apparently expecting that they would stand behind him and see that his promotion would go through the military channels, Macklem went out, bought an officer’s uniform. He blossomed forth as a staff colonel, in which capacity he met and associated with some of the most prominent people of the old country [England]. He was invited to and attended many social functions given by Viscountess Maitland and various members of the nobility.
Finally, it was decided Macklem was to come out to Canada and try to dispose of his invention there or in the United States, money advances being made him by friends interested in his enterprise. On the boat coming over he met Edmond Bristol of Toronto, who was a member of Parliament. Mr. Bristol became his legal advisor and secured him the coveted entrée to the exclusive Rideau Club in Ottawa, where “Col” Macklem dined with such men as Sir Robert Borden [Prime Minister] and Sir Sam Hughes [Minister of Milita]. Through the Prime Minister he secured an introduction to the British embassy in Washington and was accompanied there by Mr. Bristol. In the meantime the military authorities began to look up Macklem’s record and found that he had not been gazette a colonel or given any rank as a colonel or given any rank as an officer. His rise to fame has been accomplished by fictitious means. Bristol was warned and on making further investigations he cut loose from Macklem, who, by this time, had located in Detroit, and took an active part in the liberty Loan Campaign. The first public intimation that Macklem was not all he pretended to be, was made in the Detroit papers on Sunday, November 4 and since that time Macklem has been a “front page story’ almost everyday.
The story of Omar Macklem made it back across the Atlantic as reported in the Tilbury Times, Thursday, 29 November, 1917 as follows:
“Maclem’s Tales Denied in London”
Financed by Friends.
“Statements published in Canada, especially [the] letter purporting to relate to Omar L. Macklem’s association with the leading public men in England are a surprise here. A secretary to Premier [Prime Minister] Lloyd George states that Macklem was [not] at 10 Downing Street, April 24 or on any other date. They know nothing about him. W. F. Mortimer, of Slaughter & May, solicitors states he knows nothing of any interview at the premier’s office. He has never been with Macklem for any interview with any minister. Major Harrington acting for the minister of militia overseas also states Macklem is not an officer of the Imperial or Canadian Forces. Nothing is known of his invention of a band grenade.”
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
| Awards | Distinguished Conduct Medal |
| Sources | TT (23-12-1915), Chatham Daily Planet (12-05-1917), Chatham Daily Planet (31-07-1917), Chatham Daily Planet (08-08-1917), Chatham Daily Planet (16-11-1917), Chatham Daily News (12-04-1919), Chatham Daily Planet (16-11-1917), Rita Lobzun Collection, RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 5830 - 17 |
| Birthplace | 12/06/1884 at Tilbury, ON. |
| Next of Kin | Ethel Macklim of North Bay, ON. wife. |
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