Robert Hugh McLean was a soccer referee who enlisted in April 1916 at the age of 34. His departure was marked by a gathering presided by the Referee Union president Samuel Izatt Ross. McLean himself could not attend but toasts were raised, and medals and a safety razor were presented to the Union’s secretary W. H. Dunstan on McLean’s behalf. It seemed the event went ahead due to the regret the group had in not having enough time to organise a farewell for James Brown, a referee who had previously enlisted.
For his part, McLean survived the war having served with the 41st Battalion, but not without incident. He received a gunshot wound to the head in mid-1917 but recovered sufficiently to rejoin his battalion in November. Such was his recovery that in his final AIF Medical Report, used to record any ongoing disabilities due to the war on discharge, McLean stated he felt fit and well.
He lived until 79, passing away in 1961.