THE FIGHTING PARSON

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 15 April 1915, Page 2

THE FIGHTING PARSON

REV. C. T. MACLEAN GOES

TO THE FRONT

GETS WOUNDED AND INV ALIDED

HOME

WAS STATIONED AT KAWAKAWA

FOR A TIME

Lieut. Cuthbert Maclean, who has been awarded the new decoration of the Military Cross for " distinguished and meritorious services " in the war, is believed to be the only man who has united the professions of soldier and clergyman, following both at the same . time, says the " Daily Mail." About three years the Rev. C, Maclean was stationed in Bay of Islands, and a neighbour of our Editor's at Kawakawa, and the two together assisted in the treeplanting fete in connection with the Kawakawa school. Rev. Maclean was very popular during the short time he was incumbent at St. Paul's Anglican Church, and took part in all social and religious functions, having the welfare of the people at heart. He is quite a young man and unmarried.

Lieutenant Maclean is now curate to the rector of Newington England. He is a native of New Zealand, and was an officer in the Dominion army when he became assistan clergyman at St. Mary's, Newington, about 18 months ago. Though he had been in the parish only a comparatively short time, everyone was familiar with his athletic 6ft 2in figure, and fond parishioners told a " Daily Mail " representative how he always "beamed with kindness." The Rev. W". J. Conybeare, rector of Newington paid a notable tribute to Lieut! Maclean's keenness as a parish worker and his enthusiasm as a Scout leader. Just before he went to war he had a Scout camp at Caterham. " I believe it is the only instance of a man who was a military lofficer when he was ordained, and who continued to be a soldier as well as priest," said the vicar.

The Rev. C. T. Maclean joined the 7th Royal Fusiliers This battalion was not going to the front soon enough for him, and he became attached to the 4th Battalion, which he joined on the Aisne. t The clergyman-officer was m the thick of all the fighting until, at Ypres, he was shot in the knee —the fifty-fourth officer of this Royal Fusilier battalion to be wounded in the great battle.

Writing to his rector from France, Lieutenant (and Rev.) Maclean mentions casually that he had been in the trenches for three weeks, continually under fire, without an opportunity of taking off his boots or having a wash. Among several narrow escapes he described being hit on the neck on one occasion, without suffering much injury. He said of another "incident":— I spent some hours sitting in my funk-hole ' in a trench, and then I left for a little exercise. About twenty minutes after I had moved out a huge shell burst m the exact spot where I had been sitting for hours, and blew up the trench for some twenty yards."

Lieutenant Maclean was invalided home, and had an enthusiastic reception when he re-appeared in Newington. He is now training some of the New Army at Falmouth until he is fit enough to return to the front.