Millar, John
Rifleman
No. 7102, ‘D’ Company, 2nd Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles
Died of wounds on Monday 2 July 1917 (aged 23)
Buried:
Etaples Military Cemetery, France (Grave XXV. J. 2)
Commemorated:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Journey of Remembering Belfast Book of Honour
BIOGRAPHY
In some records his surname is spelt Miller.
In Ireland’s Memorial Records 1914 – 1918 it is recorded that Rifleman John Millar (No. 7102) was born in Holywood.
In the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) Debt of Honour Website it is recorded that he was a son of Alexander and Anna Millar of Belfast and that he was the husband of Martha Millar of 144 East Bread Street, Belfast.
John Millar was born on 2 June 1895 at Strand Street, Holywood, and he was a son of Alexander and Anna (sometimes Hannah) Millar (nee Gilmore, sometimes Gilmour). The widowed Alexander Millar and Anna Gilmore were married on 10 September 1893 in the Parish Church, Kirk Braddan, Isle of Man. Alexander and Anna Millar (nee Gilmore) had at least five children:
John (born 2 June 1895 at Strand Street, Holywood)
Hugh (born 19 September 1897 at High Street, Holywood)
Brice (Bryce, born 7 July 1900 at High Street, Holywood; died of influenza 8 May 1912)
Robert (born 16 April 1905 at Killip’s Court, Holywood)
James (born 11 September 1907 at Killip’s Court, Holywood)
Alexander Millar worked as a bricklayer, and he died in hospital on 9 December 1907 (aged 51).
There is evidence that Alexander Millar had previously been married to Jane Dunderdale.
Alexander Millar and Jane Dunderdale were married on 29 May 1881 in St Michael’s Church of England Church, Toxteth, Walton on the Hill, Lancashire. Alexander Millar (aged 22), a bricklayer from Bickerton Street, Liverpool, was a son of Henry Millar, an inn keeper. Jane Dunderdale (aged 19) from Bickerton Street, was a daughter of John Dunderdale, a railway porter. They had at least two children:
Henry (born around 1886 in England)
William (born around 1889 in England)
In 1911 John Millar (aged 15) was attending Balmoral Industrial Boarding School in Belfast, along with his brothers, Bryce and Hugh.
John Millar and Martha Ann Graham were married on 1 May 1915 in St Mark’s Church of Ireland Church Dundela and they lived at 144 East Bread Street, Belfast. John Millar (aged 21) was stationed in Palace Barracks, Holywood and in civil marriage registration records it was incorrectly recorded that he was a son of William Millar. Martha Graham (aged 22) was from 130 East Bread Street, Belfast. Her father’s name wasn’t recorded; his forename was, in fact, William (from 1911 Census).
John and Martha Millar (nee Graham) had one daughter – Rebecca (born 27 August 1916 at 140 East Bread Street, Belfast)
John Millar enlisted in Holywood, served with ‘D’ Company 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Rifles and was 23 when he died of wounds in No. 11 General Hospital, Camiers, France on 2 July 1917. He was buried in Etaples Military Cemetery, France.
He had previously been wounded on 17 November 1916 and was entitled to wear a wound stripe.
Rifleman John Millar (No. 7102) is commemorated in the Belfast Book of Honour (Page 468). In his will he bequeathed all his property and effects to his wife Martha.
On 29 June 1918 Martha Millar (nee Graham) and David Jamison were married in St Mark’s Church of Ireland Church Dundela. David Jamison, a labourer from 128 East Bread Street, Belfast was a son of Samuel Jamison, a labourer. Martha Millar from 144 East Bread Street, Belfast was a daughter of William Graham, a labourer.
Rifleman John Millar’s brother Hugh also served during the Great War: Rifleman Hugh Millar (No. 408), 19th Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles and (No. 354225) Royal Army Medical Corps.