Private James (or Thomas) Millar
The background of this North Irish Horseman is not known at present.
James (or Thomas) Millar enlisted at Belfast on 17 September 1917. He was described as being 5' 8" tall, with a fresh complexion, fair hair and grey eyes. He gave his age as 19, his birthplace as Shankill, and his occupation as a dealer.
Between 15 December 1917 and 8 January 1918 he was posted to the North Irish Horse (Corps of Hussars No.72016).
On 22 February 1918 he was reported to have deserted from the regiment's reserve base at Antrim. He must have been apprehended or surrendered himself, for later that year he embarked for France, where he was posted to one of the squadrons of the 1st North Irish Horse Regiment. In February-March 1918 this regiment was dismounted and converted to a cyclist unit, serving as corps cyclists to V Corps until the end of the war.
In March 1919 Millar was one of fifteen North Irish Horse cyclists who transferred to the Army Cyclist Corps (No.14821), serving with the 4th Cyclist Battalion at Rolsdorf, part of the Army of Occupation on the Rhine. He was discharged (or transferred to Class Z, Army Reserve), on 3 December 1919.
Soon after the war he was living at 25 Colchester Street, Belfast. He unsuccessfully applied for a pension, claiming disability caused by his military service.
Records suggest that Millar may have at some later point served in the Royal Artillery (No.1466624).
This page last updated 16 February 2024.