Charmed Li

Vale Jock Mclaren

Car Accident Ends Charmed Li

FATE took a hand at last w/ Robert Kerr McLaren (“Joel on March 3 when he was kill, in a car smash at Wau, New Guim McLaren was a double MC s survived more adventures in • Pacific war than any platoon j ordinary men—even an appenr operation which he performed hii self, after he had signed his oo death certificate so that his coo panions would not get into trouj if he died. McLaren was a Scot with a So accent that survived until his de:£ although he had lived a great pq of his life far from his nat, country. He was a World Wa;i veteran but joined the AIF in IT and went to Malaya with the Division.

He fought with guerilla fom after the surrender, was betrayed) the Japs and was sent to Born from where he escaped and m;r his way to the Philippines. li the Japs put a price on his hn and the Australian Governim heard of his activities, commission him in the field and awarded H his first Military Cross. He earr the second later, when back : Borneo.

It was while on the run Mindanao that he used his v inary knowledge to perform operation on himself. A few ye ago in New Guinea he told a mej ber of PIM staff how this cs; about.

He had been in agony for so; weeks and knew that there wass choice in the matter. He mirror, a razor-blade, a pair * forceps and an old pair of scisss He sewed the incision with mai hemp. He had no anaesthetic..

A couple of old Filipino midwr. mopped off his sweat occasions, otherwise he was on his own. " operation lasted 4i hours, dun. which the Filipino men of the ps sat around scared —that is why tit had prevailed upon him to sign hr self a death certificate before 1 began. They did not want toe found later with a European com on their hands.

He was walking around a hours after the operation and spq the three days following it on run from the Japs.

He was proud of the fact tt when doctors did examine him, a;e some months, they found it a feet job.”

McLaren joined the P-NG partment of Agriculture as a t erinary officer after the war. He be missed by his many friends.? t Pathe cameramen ex Orsova w shooting Fiji local colour late FT ruary towards a travel film e being made for the Orient Linee its London publicity department