Mar 12, 1873

Born on the Isle of Arran, Scotland

Aug 3, 1915

Attested into the 76^th Battalion in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario with the rank of Sergeant

Ø      Number 141825

Ø      Next of kin given as Mrs. Robert McMillan, wife, Woodhead, Lamlash, Isle of Arran, Scotland

Ø      Previous occupation given as Clerk

Ø      Previous military experience given as 93^rd Regiment, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders

Ø      Religion given as Presbyterian

Ø      Assigned to “C” Company

Dec 8, 1915

Reduced to the rank of Private and transferred to “D” Company, 15^th Platoon

Apr 4, 1916

After being AWL (Absent Without Leave) for 17 days, he was sentenced to 21 days CB (Confined to Barracks)

Apr 23, 1916

Embarked the RMS Empress of Britain in Halifax, Nova Scotia

May 5, 1916

Disembarked in Liverpool, England and the battalion proceeded to the West Sandling Camp, near Hythe, Kent, to continue training

Jun 28, 1916

Transferred to the 21^st Battalion

Jun 29, 1916

Arrived at the CBD (Canadian Base Depot) in the Rouelles Camp, Havre, France and TOS (Taken On Strength) the 21^st Battalion

Jul 12, 1916

Left the CBD to join his battalion

Jul 13, 1916

Joined the 21^st Battalion in billets in the Chippewa Camp, near La Clytte, Belgium

Sep 15, 1916

During the 21^st Battalion’s advance at Courcelette, the battalion had a German strong point in a sugar refinery was their objective.  The attack was the first time the battalion had advanced with tanks for support, and the fighting was very fierce.  Private McMillan received shrapnel wounds to his chest, abdomen and legs and was removed to the No. 6 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) for first aid.

Sep 16, 1916

He was transferred to the CCS (Casualty Clearing Station) for further treatment and then transferred to the Special Hospital in Warloy, France

Sep 21, 1916

Transferred to the No. 22 General Hospital in Camiers

Oct 6, 1916

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship Cambria

On arrival in England he was admitted to the Ontario Military Hospital in Orpington, Kent.

Posted to the CCAC (Canadian Casualty Assembly Centre) while in hospital

Oct 17, 1916

An operation was performed to remove shrapnel from his back, near the spine which was measured at 1¼” x ¾” and another smaller piece from his lungs.

Oct 23, 1916

Surgery was performed again, this time to remove bone fragments from his lungs.

Oct 28, 1916

Private McMillan began hemorrhaging from his lungs and died of his wounds at 6:20 PM while in the Ontario Military Hospital and was buried in the Orpington All Saints Churchyard Cemetery, formerly known as the Ontario Cemetery, Orpington

Following the war the British War Medal, Victory Medal, Plaque (Dead Man’s Penny), Scroll and Memorial Cross were sent to his widow, Mrs. Annie McMillan, Isle of Arran, Scotland.