His parents, William McFadzean and his wife Annie Pedlow née Bowden, were from Belfast and lived in the suburb of Cregagh.

[1][2] A keen sportsman and standing 6 feet 0 inches (1.83 metres) tall, McFadzean played rugby union for Collegians RFC.

After completing training, firstly at Finner Camp in Ireland and then Seaforth in England, McFadzean and his regiment embarked for the Western Front in October 1915.

[1] The 36th Division was stationed near Thiepval Wood from March 1916 and would be involved in the upcoming Battle of the Somme, for which it was tasked with advancing to Grandcourt.

While an artillery barrage on the opposing German trenches was in progress, he was one of the bombardiers priming supplies of hand grenades.

[6] King George V also wrote to the family and provided train tickets to travel to the VC investiture at Buckingham Palace.

There is a plaque to him at Newtownbreda Presbyterian Church in Belfast, which also hosted his memorial service on the one year anniversary of his death, and at his parents' house in Cregagh.