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Lt. John Pitcairn MILLAR Scottish Rifles


Mudd

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I am currently researching Lieutenant John Pitcairn MILLAR 6th. Batt. Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) Killed in Action 21st. September 1918.

I am aware that other members of the Forum have been involved in research of the same manin the past and hope that they may contact me to assist in ultimately tracing his WW1 medal trio and memorial plaque. Any documents refering to him or a photograph would be appreciated. I would be willing to purchase any of these items but would be happy to know they have survived the passage of time and are safe. My ultimate aim would be to re-unite his medallic entitlement with his wifes and his sons medals already in my care.

Thanks for looking,

Steve

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Steve

A service record for a Lt J P MILLAR exists at Kew under WO374/47688. No guarantee that it is he,but worth a look.

Sotonmate

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JOHN PITCAIRN MILLAR

Lieutenant, 1/6th Bn., Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), 33rd Div.. (The 1/5th and 1/6th Bns were amalgamated in May 1916.)

[Formerly, 1/14th London Regt (London Scottish)] Son of Mr. and Mrs W. P. Millar, of Enfield, Middx.; husband of Sybil A. T. Millar, of 39, Seaward Avenue, West Southbourne, Bournemouth. Educated at Enfield Grammar School.

Born 19TH November 1897. Enlisted pre-War To France 15th September 1914 as Cpl. 740 1/14th London Regt (London Scottish). Commissioned in Scottish Rifles 14th July 1915, then served in 65th Div. Midland and Connaught District, Curragh Camp, Ireland. To France 30th August 1918. Killed in action on Saturday, 21st September 1918. Age 30. Battle of Ephéy. At 7.45pm on 21st September 2 Companies of 5/Scottish Rifles attacked and successfully captured Meath Post, short of the Brigade objective, taking 42 prisoners. They established some posts further east and cleared the trenches either side, erecting trench blocks. The two companies then occupied German trenches to the north, which had previously been occupied and given up by the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.

Service record not traced.

LIEUTENANT J. P. MlLLAR, Scottish Rifles (Cameronians), (at Enfield Grammar School from 1898 to 1903), was a member of the Scottish Rifles before the war, and went to France with his Regiment as a private on September 15th, 1914. He served at the Front until July, 1915, gaining the rank of Sergeant, when he came home to take a Commission. He was next employed in Scotland, Essex and Ireland, in training recruits for his Regiment, and was quickly advanced to Captain (temporary) and Adjutant, being ultimately recommended for Staff appointment. He returned to the Front August 30th, 1918, and was killed at Villers-Guislain (5 miles north-west of Le Catelet) on September 21st, by a shell which burst near some trenches just re¬taken from the Germans. He was buried the same night on the battlefield, at Villers-Guislam.

VILLERS HILL BRITISH CEMETERY, VILLERS-GUISLAIN, Nord, France II. B. 17.

On the roll of the Parish Church of St Andrew Enfield, from which the above is extracted. Photograph on the website. If you PM me I will send you a copy.

John

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Hi John,

Some of this information is already on my small recently started file, however there were gaps which you have filled.

Many thanks for the trouble you took to reply to my post and for your help.

I will soon be able to build 'the big picture'.

The next thing will be to try and track down his medals and plaque to re-unite with his son and his wifes entitlement.

Once again, many thanks.

regards,

Steve

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Steve

I've sent you a copy of the photograph I've traced from the St Andrew's website - the archivist links on the Roll of Honour finds its way back to me eventually. If there is anything else that you do find out about him, it would be helpful if we could also add that to the website. As you'll have seen, we are building the roll from a lowish base.

John

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