Parachute Padre Fraser McLuskey

James Fraser McLuskey (1914-2005) is known as Parachute Padre because he was awarded the Military Cross, during WWII, while with Special Air Services (SAS).
He was a British Church of England minister who served as a military chaplain with the SAS during WWII.
He later went on to become the minister of St. Columba’s, (1960-86) the larger of the Church of Scotland’s two congregations in London.
He also served for one year as Moderator of the General Assembly (1983-4).

He was born in Edinburgh on 19th September 1914. His family moved to Aberdeen where his father ran a laundry business. He attended Aberdeen Grammar School (1920-31), He returned to Edinburgh to take degrees in divinity and art.

Fraser McLuskey, as he was known, spent several months on a travel scholarship where he became interested in the Confessional Church in Germany - church opposed to Hitler and the Nazis. Here he met his first wife, Irene Calaminus, the pastor’s daughter.

Ordained in 1938 to be the Scottish secretary of the Student Christian Movement. In 1939 he became chaplain to the University of Glasgow (1939-47).

In 1942/3 he took leave of absence to become an Army Chaplain. After parachute training he was posted to the SAS. He served in France, Germany and Norway and was awarded the Military Cross. ( See Independent for ‘citation’)
His war time experiences can be read in Parachute Padre; Behind German Lines with the SAS: France 1944 ( See AbeBooks)

Back in Britain he travelled throughout the country visiting families of men lost in action with the SAS, explaining the circumstances of their death.
1947-50 he was sub-warden at the Royal Army Chaplains’ Training Centre.

He then returned to Scotland. He went first to Broughty Ferry East. In 1955 to New Kilpatrick on the outskirts of Glasgow where he had a congregation of 2,0000, While there his first wife, Irene, died of breast cancer. leaving him had 2 teenage boys to look after.

In 1960 he moved to St. Columbia’s, Pont Street, London where he was involved in many Scots church and ecumenical activities. His first priorities were in preaching the pastoral work. .
He believed in having Church of Scotland outposts in London so he united with the kirk in Dulwich. He also had a link with St. Andrew’s, Newcastle upon Tyne.
In 1966 he married a divorced widow. Ruth Briant

As moderator of the General Assembly 1983/4 he received the Queen at the centenary service of his church. He represented the Kirk at the reunion assembly in Atlanta of the Northern and Southern American Presbyterian churches.

After 25 years at St. Columbia’s he retired to Edinburgh in 1986.

After his retirement he remained influential in the Kirk. a moderating force in political matters and a supporter of a more evangelical approach.

He spent his free time traveling the countryside where he had been with the SAS in WWII.

Fraser McLuskey, the Parachute Padre, took his last jump: he died on the 24th July, 2005, aged 90.