| Location | Isle Of Mull |
| Age | 20 years |
| Cause of Death | In the Line of Duty |
| Date of Birth | 1989 |
| Date of Death | 11/06/2009 |
| Visitors | 1,897 since 16/06/2009 |
| Creator |
Private Robert McLaren from The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland (3 SCOTS), was killed in an explosion in Afghanistan.
Pte McLaren, from Kintra, by Fionnphort on the Isle of Mull, was fresh out of infantry recruit training. He was schooled at Bunnessan Primary and then Oban High School. Pte McLaren joined the Army in November 2007 and trained first at the Army Training Regiment in Winchester and then as a Royal Engineer in Surrey.
Pte McLaren ultimately decided to pursue a career as a Scottish Infantryman and attended and comfortably passed the Combat Infantryman's Course at the Infantry Training Centre, Catterick. He passed out of Seven Platoon on 3 April, 2009 and was posted to The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland on operations in Southern Afghanistan.
Robert , I last left Tribute to you on January 31, 2010. I have been thinking about you a lot recently. See when I first posted , I said I was a Mum of a Soldier who served with you, sadly who would have thought less than 2 years later I'm posting again, because my Soldier is no longer with me. he died you see on 17th December 2011 , I buried him on 29th December 2011. I did get to meet your Mum in the end, she was there for me and my family at my son Aaron's funeral. God Bless you both , 2 brave young men from 3 Scots, both gone far too soon xxx
I was touring in Mull around a month ago, I am originally from the Island (An t-Eilean Muileach ), I visited the little cemetry above Bunessan, which has a wonderful view over the bay to the cliffs and mountains to the North. It was here I found the grave of a young soldier Robert MacLean MacLaren of the Regiment of Scotland. Here is a young man aged 20 from this part of the island, like so many in the past he died in service of his country. I did not know him, like I did not know the many who have served their country before him and died on some foreign field. His grave has a small blue bear a football, a lion rampart flag and a small toy left by a sister and a brother perhaps. He is obviously missed by his loved ones and parents. He reminded me of when my wife and I were on a flight from London to Inverness just before Christmas, a few years ago, the iraq war was at its height and the plane was full of Irish Rangers travelling back to Fort George for a couple of weeks before returning to the war. They were boisterous and noisy and the stewardess offered to move us, but we declined they were young, and they were letting off steam. Some of our fellow passengers looked at them with distain, forgetting that these "kids" barely out of school some of them, were fighting to preserve the freedoms which our ancestors had done in the Somme, Sebastopol, or Waterloo. We chatted to a couple of them one with bright red hair, one lad was going to see his baby born only a few weeks before, we saw his young wife only a girl herself, and prayed that he would return to them safely. The red haired lad I knew died a little after and although I did not know him I felt I did. Robert will have been like him, proud to wear the uniform, feircly loyal to his "Brothers in Arm" fun loving, kind to the Afgan children, as the ones that have served before have. He was devoted to his brother and sister and his mum and dad. I stood at his grave moved by his death, but pround of that young Mulleach who I never knew.
letter from heven
Letter From Heaven
When tomorrow starts without me,
and I'm not there to see;
If the sun should rise and find your eyes,
all filled with tears for me;
I wish so much you wouldn't cry,
the way you did today,
while thinking of the many things,
we didn't get to say.
I know how much you love me,
as much as I love you,
and each time that you think of me,
I know you'll miss me too;
But when tomorrow starts without me,
please try to understand,
that an Angel came and called my name,
and took me by the hand,
and said my place was ready,
in heaven far above,
and that I'd have to leave behind,
all those I dearly love.
But as I turned to walk away,
a tear fell from my eye,
for all life, I'd always thought,
I didn't want to die.
I had so much to live for,
so much yet to do,
it seemed almost impossible,
that I was leaving you.
I thought of all the yesterdays,
the good ones and the bad,
I thought of all the love we shared,
and all the fun we had.
If I could relive yesterday,
just even for awhile,
I'd say goodbye and kiss you
and maybe see you smile.
But then I fully realized,
that this could never be,
for emptiness and memories,
would take the place of me.
And when I thought of worldly things,
I might miss come tomorrow,
I thought of you, and when I did,
my heart was filled with sorrow.
But when I walked through heaven's gates,
I felt so much at home.
When God looked down and smiled at me,
from His great golden throne,
He said, "This is eternity,
and all I've promised you".
Today for life on earth is past,
but here it starts anew.
I promise no tomorrow,
but today will always last,
and since each day's the same day,
there's no longing for the past.
But you have been so faithful,
so trusting and so true.
Though there were times you did some things,
you knew you shouldn't do.
But you have been forgiven
and now at last you're free.
So won't you take my hand
and share my life with me?
So when tomorrow starts without me,
don't think we're far apart,
for every time you think of me,
I'm right here, in your heart.
(Unknown)
Hiya Robert :) hope your being treated well up there pal, I think about you all the time not a day goes by when your not on my mind at some point... there are so many things i want to say.. but dont know how to say them ..
love you always! xxx
thinking of you
Hey Robert sorry not been here for a while. Me and sean were talking about you the other week. He was talking about your days of training and the laughs you all had. Thnk its still hard for the boys knowing you died that day. Hope your family stay strong. Sleep tight soldier. xxx
Robert, I think of you often. I never knew you, but I also have a son called Aaron who served with you. He spoke, and still speaks , highly of you. A brave young man who paid the ultimate price in the line of duty. I saw your Mum at the Perth homecoming march. I feel sad because I only found out later in the day,it was your mum that nodded over to my son. I so wish I had gone over and given her a hug. Rest easy Robert, June x
Hero
Not a day goes by that i dont think of you mate, you were the most professional and dedicated bloke i've ever worked with and one of the best friends i've ever had. Miss you loads pal but i'll hopefully see you again one day soon....Sleep tight mac.
love dave
love from a fallen heros mother
hello robert
well wed was a realy bad day u were all in my thoughts son
seans 23rd birthday i am sure you binnie kev guss and now tam were having a ball babes
you are all always in my thoughts
you all did your country proud son
god bless and take care of you all till we meet again one day
love jan n allan binnie
in my thoughts
hey robert,well your platoon will all be coming back next weekend and im sorry you wont be with them.it will be so hard for your family to know they wont see you again and my heart goes out to them. im sure all your buddies will remember you when they get back and have a good drink to remember you .sleep tight xxx
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