Kenneth McLaren
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Kenneth McLaren DSO (sometimes given as "MacLaren"),[1] (1860–1924) was a Major[2] in the 13th Hussars regiment of the British Army. After his military service, he was briefly involved with his friend Robert Baden-Powell in the early promotion of the Scout Movement.
Son of H. McLaren, of The Chalet, Tighnabruaich, Argyllshire, Scotland (the family home was later Dunmar at Tighnabruaich)[3][4] McLaren was educated at Harrow[5] and Sandhurst[6] before being assigned to the 13th Hussars in 1880.[7] He was posted to India, where he served as regimental adjutant and later aide de camp to General Baker Russell.[1][8] In South Africa, he was gravely wounded during the Siege of Mafeking in March 1900 and taken prisoner by the Boers.[1] He was created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) in November 1900.[9] McLaren played polo throughout his military service[10] and was umpire of one of the two matches in the 1908 London Olympics.[11]
McLaren first met Baden-Powell (also a 13th Hussars officer) in 1881. Although McLaren was 20 at the time, Baden-Powell nicknamed him "the Boy", on account of his appearance.[6][7][12][13][14] The two became fast friends, their relationship being one of the most important friendships in Baden-Powell's life.[15][14][16]
McLaren volunteered his services and was recalled to military service in World War I, serving in France with the Casualty Records Department but retired again in 1915 due to the onset of the first symptoms of "softening of the brain" (according to Baden-Powell his friend suffered also from "melancholia").[5][17]
