McMillan, David H.
Private
No. 17271, Highland Light Infantry transferred to
No. 15092, Leinster Regiment transferred to
No. 40048, 2nd Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers
Died of wounds on Friday 21 December 1917 (aged 19)
Buried:
Tincourt New British Cemetery, France (Grave III. G. 25)
Commemorated:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Newtownards and District War Memorial (with MM inscribed)
Kircubbin Presbyterian Church (without MM inscribed)
BIOGRAPHY
It was reported in the Press that David H. McMillan was an orphan who was placed in Newtownards Workhouse and subsequently boarded out in 1902 by the Newtownards Board of Governors. It was reported that he was four years old when he was placed with James McDowell who was a farmer in Kircubbin. James McDowell and his wife Margaret were in their mid-50s without any children of their own.
It was reported in the Press that David McMillan was educated in Kircubbin and he won a silver medal for good conduct and drill proficiency as a member of the Boys’ Brigade. After leaving school, David went to sea for two years and then he was ‘engaged in railway work’ in Glasgow. He enlisted and joined the Highland Light Infantry (No. 17271). Later he was transferred to the Leinster Regiment (No. 15092) and then to the Royal Dublin Fusiliers (No. 40048).
Private David McMillan was 19 when he died on 21 December 1917 from the effects of gunshot wounds to the chest. David’s foster parents James and Margaret McDowell who lived in Rowantree Cottage, Kircubbin placed a For King and Country notice in the Newtownards Chronicle. David was also remembered by Mrs Toomath, (she was described as his ‘married sister’), who lived at Strandtown, Belfast.
At this point it is useful to note the births of three McMillan children born in Newtownards:
- David McMillan was born on 16 July 1893 at Greenwell Street, Newtownards and at civil registration his mother was named as an unmarried Jane McMillan. Eliza Casbey, who was present at his birth, registered his birth.
- Annie McMillan was born on 13 November 1896 at Greenwell Street, Newtownards and at civil registration her forename was registered as Lizzie, and her mother was named as an unmarried Bella McMillan. Jane McMillan, who was present at her birth, registered her birth.
- Hugh McMillan was born on 4 April 1899 at Greenwell Street, Newtownards and at civil registration his mother was named as an unmarried Isabella McMillan. Eliza Casbey, who was present at his birth, registered his birth.
Isabella McMillan was a daughter of Alexander and Isabella McMillan (nee Robinson) who were married on 6 May 1850 in Newtownards Registrar’s Office and who had at least three children:
Isabella (born 23 September 1864 at Loughries)
Alexander (Alex, born 21 March 1867 at Loughriscouse)
Unnamed female (born 13 June 1876 at Bootown)
David’s sister was called Annie and in 1901 (aged 6) she was boarding in Ballyhalbert with William and Annie Moreland (nee Thompson) who were married on 14 January 1898 in Glastry Presbyterian Church. Annie McMillan was adopted by Hugh and Letitia Goudy (nee Reid) who were married on 10 October 1883 in First Newtownards Presbyterian Church, and they had no children of their own. After being adopted, Annie used the surname Goudy and in 1911 (aged 16) Annie, Hugh and Letitia Goudy were living in Ballyskeagh.
Their mother, Isabella McMillan (nee Robinson), died on 1 November 1909 at Greenwell Street, Newtownards (aged 72); her son Alex was present at her death.
Their father, Alexander McMillan, died on 14 August 1912 at Ballyalicock (a widower, aged 70); his son Alex was present at his death.
In civil registration records the death is recorded of a Jane McMillan at Greenwell Street, Newtownards on 27 November 1897 (aged 33). Jane was described as an unmarried embroiderer who had died of tuberculosis. It was recorded that her daughter, Jane, who was present at her death, registered her death.
Whilst there are some ambiguities and inconsistencies in the records, there is compelling evidence that David, Annie, and Hugh McMillan share the same mother. Some records confirm that Annie was Hugh’s sister; other records state that Annie was David’s sister.
Hugh McMillan
In 1911 Hugh McMillan (aged 11) was living at Drumawhy, Mountstewart, Greyabbey with David James McRoberts (aged 42), a farmer, his wife Agnes Mary McRoberts (aged 36) and their daughter Mary Elizabeth McRoberts (aged 5).
Hugh McMillan moved to Canada in 1920 and in his Passenger Declaration he named David McRoberts as his foster father.
In 1921 Hugh (aged 21) was living in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Hugh McMillan and Elsie Philips Mathieson were married on 18 August 1923 in Hamilton, Ontario. Hugh named David McRoberts as his foster father and Agnes McRoberts as his foster mother.
Hugh McMillan died on 9 April 1930 at Hamilton General Hospital (aged 31). His father’s name was recorded on his death certificate as ‘not known’.
Annie McMillan
In 1901 Annie McMillan (aged 6) was living in Ballyhalbert with William and Annie Moreland (nee Thompson) who were married on 14 January 1898 in Glastry Presbyterian Church. Annie McMillan was adopted by Hugh and Letitia Goudy (nee Reid) who were married on 10 October 1883 in First Newtownards Presbyterian Church, and they had no children of their own. After being adopted, Annie used the surname Goudy and in 1911 (aged 16) Annie, Hugh and Letitia Goudy were living at Ballyskeagh.
Annie Goudy and Richard Toomath were married on 6 August 1914 in Dundonald Presbyterian Church. Annie Goudy (aged 20) was from Ballyskeagh and her father wasn’t named on the marriage registration. Richard Toomath, a widower and coal manager from Strandtown, Belfast was a son of James Toomath, deceased.
Richard and Annie Toomath (nee Goudy) had at least five children:
Hugh Ernest Goudy (born 12 May 1915 at Lisgannon House, Dundela Park, Belfast)
Andrew Bryan (born 4 April 1916 at Lisgannon House, Dundela Park, Belfast)
Margaret Letitia (born 28 September 1917 at Lisgannon House, Dundela Park, Belfast)
Annie Watson (born 4 October 1918 at Lisgannon House, Dundela Park, Belfast)
John Milligan (born 16 June 1920 at Lisgannon House, Dundela Park, Belfast)
Richard Toomath had previously been married to Kathleen McPhie Kirkpatrick; they were married on 1 August 1912 in St Patrick’s Church of Ireland Church, Ballymacarrett, Belfast. Richard Toomath, a superintendent from Lisgannon, Dundela Park, Belfast was a widower, and he was a son of James Toomath, a farmer. Kathleen McPhie Kirkpatrick from 1 Dufferin Terrace, Connsbrook Avenue, Belfast was a daughter of John Kirkpatrick, a boilermaker.
Richard and Kathleen’s daughter, Kathleen Toomath, was born on 21 September 1913 in Lisgannon, Dundela Park, Belfast. Kathleen Toomath (nee Kirkpatrick) died on 21 September 1913 (aged 23) in childbirth.
Before that, Richard Toomath had been married to Annie (sometimes Anna, sometimes Hannah) Sinclair; they were married on 7 May 1888 in Willowfield Church of Ireland Church. Richard and Annie Toomath had at least 14 children:
James (born 26 April 1889; served with the Mercantile Marine during the Great War and died as the result of enemy action on 6 May 1918 (aged 29)
Unnamed male (born 19 May 1890, died of debility 20 May 1890)
Agnes (born 7 May 1891)
William (born 2 November 1893)
Richard (born 28 March 1895)
Samuel (born 15 November 1896)
David (born 13 April 1898)
Maydillen Adelaide Hall (born 27 March 1900)
Anna (born 7 February 1902, died of rickets 11 September 1902)
Joseph (born 18 March 1903)
Emily (born 1 October 1904)
Jeanie (born 17 July 1906)
Unity McManaman (born 11 September 1907; died of rickets 2 October 1908)
Evelyn (born 16 April 1909).
Annie Toomath (nee Sinclair) died as the result of a bowel obstruction on 18 December 1911 (aged 42) in the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast.
In 1923 Annie Toomath (nee Goudy), wife of Richard Toomath, travelled to Canada to see her brother, Hugh McMillan.
Annie’s son, Andrew Bryan Toomath, died on 10 July 1945 (aged 29).
Annie’s husband, Richard Toomath, died on 22 August 1959 (aged 95).
Annie Toomath died on 21 April 1977 (aged 80) at Toronto East General Hospital. Her name was recorded as ‘Annie McMillan Goudy Toomath’, and her date of birth was recorded as 13 November 1896 (Lizzie’s date of birth).
David McMillan
In the December 1917 and January 1918 editions of the Newtownards Chronicle it was reported that Private David McMillan had been ‘wounded at the Battle of Loos in December 1915 and again at Ypres in August 1917 when he was awarded the Military Medal for conspicuous gallantry in the field’. It was reported in the Press that, ‘for gallantry on the same occasion his officer won the Victoria Cross’. Neither in David’s army records nor on his CWGC headstone is there any reference to the award of a Military Medal (MM) and his service medal entitlement indicates that he did not serve overseas in 1915.
The misinformation in the newspaper reports may have arisen because of the fact that in 1917 ‘his officer’ in the Royal Dublin Fusiliers was Sergeant James Ockendon who was awarded the Victoria Cross east of Langemarck on 4 October 1917 during the Third Battle of Ypres and who himself had been awarded the Military Medal in August 1917. One of nine children, Sergeant James Ockendon VC MM was born on 10 December 1890 in Portsmouth and he joined the Royal Dublin Fusiliers in 1909. When he was awarded the Victoria Cross Sergeant Ockendon was acting as Company Sergeant-Major and, regardless of his own safety, he attacked an enemy machine-gun position capturing the gun and killing the crew. Then he led an attack on another enemy position, killing four of the enemy and capturing 16 prisoners. In 1918 Sergeant Ockendon was awarded the Belgian Croix de Guerre and he died on 29 August 1966 aged 75.
Private David McMillan is commemorated on Newtownards and District War Memorial (with MM inscribed) and on the Memorial Plaque in Kircubbin Presbyterian Church (without MM inscribed).
David H McMillan was wounded on 27 September 1915 while serving with the Highland Light Infantry when he sustained a gunshot wound to his right hand and was entitled to wear a wound stripe. He was wounded again on 7 September 1917.
In his will David left everything to Margaret McDowell, who was described as his foster mother.
Alexander McMillan, Uncle of David, Annie, and Hugh McMillan
Alexander McMillan and Annie Watson were married on 22 August 1891 in Zion Methodist Church, Newtownards. Alexander McMillan, a labourer from Bootown, Newtownards was a son of Alexander McMillan, a labourer. Annie Watson from Greenwell Street, Newtownards was a daughter of John Watson, a weaver.
In 1901 Alexander McMillan (aged 34) and Annie McMillan (aged 32) were living at Greenwell Street, Newtownards with their two children, Robert (aged 9) and Alexander (aged 2).