Millar, Thomas
Rifleman
No. 18471, 12th Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles
Died of disease on Tuesday 9 November 1920 (aged 30)
Buried:
Newtownards (Movilla) Cemetery, Co. Down (Grave 13. 30)
Commemorated:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Newtownards and District War Memorial
BIOGRAPHY
In some records his surname is spelt Miller.
Thomas Millar was born on 27 April 1890 in Taylor’s Row, Carrickfergus and he was a son of Samuel and Isabella Millar (nee Marshall) who were married on 20 May 1864 in Carrickfergus.
Samuel Millar worked as a flax dresser, millworker and labourer and he served for a time in the Army.
Samuel and Isabella Millar (nee Marshall) had at least fourteen children:
James (born 24 April 1865 in Taylor’s Row, Carrickfergus)
Joseph Marshall (born 13 March 1867 in Taylor’s Row, Carrickfergus)
Agnes (born 15 February 1869 in Taylor’s Row, Carrickfergus)
Robert Campbell (born 22 February 1871 in Taylor’s Row, Carrickfergus; died 23 December 1871)
Henry (born 2 November 1872 in Taylor’s Row, Carrickfergus)
Samuel (born 8 December 1874 in Scotch Quarter, Carrickfergus)
David (born 21 September 1876 in Scotch Quarter, Carrickfergus)
Ellen (born 9 December 1878 in Taylor’s Row, Carrickfergus)
Thomas (born 28 January 1881 in Taylor’s Row, Carrickfergus; died of convulsions 20 October 1882)
William (born 28 April 1883 in Taylor’s Row, Carrickfergus)
Robert Campbell (born 23 June 1885 in Taylor’s Row, Carrickfergus)
John Reid (born 8 October 1887 in Taylor’s Row, Carrickfergus)
Thomas (born 27 April 1890 in Taylor’s Row, Carrickfergus)
Isabella (born 1 August 1892 in Taylor’s Row, Carrickfergus)
Thomas Millar worked as a labourer and his eldest brother, James, lived in Agnes Street, Carrickfergus.
Thomas Millar enlisted at Clandeboye on 15 September 1914 and in his attestation papers it was noted that he was 5 feet 8 inches tall with a fresh complexion, blue eyes and dark hair. He had tattoos on both forearms – and anchor on his right and a rosette on his left. He went to France on 1 April 1917, served with the 12th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles in 108th Brigade of the 36th (Ulster) Division and was discharged from the Army on 23 August 1918 because he was no longer physically fit for war service. He was suffering from ‘Valvular Disorder of the Heart’ (VDH).
Thomas Millar was 30 when he died of heart failure in Bangor Hospital on 9 November 1920 and on his death certificate it was noted that he had been suffering from heart disease for 2½ years. Thomas Millar and his wife Elizabeth lived at 9 Wallace Street, Newtownards and it was also noted that Elizabeth had looked after him during his illness.
Rifleman Thomas Millar (No. 18471) was stationed at Clandeboye when he and Elizabeth McCready were married on 20 April 1916 in Newtownards Parish Church of Ireland Church (St Mark’s). Elizabeth McCready (aged 24) from 9 Wallace Street, Newtownards was a daughter of James McCready, a labourer.
Rifleman Thomas Millar was buried in Movilla Cemetery, Newtownards and he is commemorated on Newtownards and District War Memorial.