Harry Aubrey de Vere Maclean
General Sir Harry Aubrey de Vere Maclean (Kaïd) (1848 - 1920) was a Scottish Soldier and Instructor to the Moroccan Army.
He began his Military career in the 69th Foot (The South Lincolnshire Regiment) in 1869. He was dispatched overseas to fight the Fenians in Canada. In 1877, Maclean went to Morocco and began his career as an army instructor for the Sultan Mulai Hassan. He gained the trust of the Sultan and his successor through his service and fought against opposing tribes throughout Morocco. During his career, he was kidnapped and for held ransom after a failed first attempt. He visited the forbidden city of Tafilalt, and eventually became commander of the Sultan of Morocco's Army.
Although he was loyal to his employer to a fault, he was regarded as an unofficial British agent in the UK. He was made a Knights Commander of St Michael and St George (KCMG) by King Edward VII upon his retun to England for the Moroccan Delegation.
He was physically large and used this to his advantage when diciplining insubordinates. Although maintaining his Scottish personality and expert bagpipe skill, he adopted Moorish costume.
See also
External links
- Kaïd Maclean and the Moroccan Delegation.
- An article including a picture of General Sir Harry Aubrey de Maclean and details of his regement while in Bermuda
References