AN EMOTIVE 'CANADIAN'
1914-1915 Trio Canadian Memorial Cross
& American Tribute Medal
To:
110372. Cpl EDWARD MILLAR
5th CANADIAN MOUNTED RIFLES
(QUEBEC REGIMENT)
KILLED IN ACTION
15th March 1918
(BIOGRAPHY)
Edward Millar was born into a Presbyterian family in Galashiels, Scotland on 7th April 1888.
He was the son of Mrs Elizabeth Millar (later Laidlaw) of 47,Oakbank Place,
Winchburgh,West Lothian, Scotland, and Mr P. Laidlaw (stepfather).
His papers show him as being 5ft 6,1/2" tall with grey eyes and dark hair.
In about 1910 at the age of 22 he emigrated to The United States of America and settled in
Maynard, Massachusetts. It is believed that he had previously worked in the extensive Scottish cotton and woollen weaving trade in Galashiels before he left Scotland. He is shown on his Canadian Army attestation papers as being a 'MILL WORKER'
Maynard, Massachusetts, USA, was at that time a major centre for woollen cloth production and was employing many thousands of European immigrants. Edward almost certainly obtained employment in his chosen trade and will have worked at 
' THE MILL' at Maynard which in the early part of the 20th century was the biggest woollen mill in the world. The town of Maynard commemorated Edward's service in WW1 by the issue of a Recognition Medal ( name spelt MILLER ) Before he left Scotland he had previously served as a reservist in the BORDER RIFLES, 4th KING'S OWN SCOTTISH BORDERERS.
Like so many other British ex-patriate lads who had gone to North America to seek work and a better life, Edward's civilian life was to be interrupted by the start of The Great War. Deciding to fight, he then travelled into Canada to enlist in the Canadian Expeditionary Force which was known to be recruiting colonial and ex-pat men for service in France.
5th Canadian Mounted Rifles seen in June 1915 on the Main Street at Sherbrooke prior to their departure to France. Edward attested for the 5th Canadian Mounted Rifles at Sherbrooke, Quebec on 11th March 1915 and could well be pictured here. On arriving in France he served continually with 5th C.M.R.
On the night of 14th March 1918 he was positioned at VILLERS DU BOIS as part of a TRENCH RAIDING PARTY which were working up for a well planned and highly important attack on the German lines. These Trench Raids were a regular feature of operational activity on the Western front. This particularly carefully planned assault was probably launched in an attempt to gain valuable intelligence and local information and was clearly planned to be one of the more important raids undertaken on this part of the front as just six days later on 21st March 1918 the Germans launched their 'Operation Michael' which was also known as the Great Spring offensive.
"At 03:15 am on the 15th March 1918 the raiding party of 157 other ranks and 5 officers left the allied front line trenches and assembled in total silence in no mans land with two parties of 1 officer and 20 other ranks with Lewis guns on their flanks as side cover. The 900 yards of no mans land was covered with great stealth and on arriving at the German positions only 'feeble' resistance was encountered. The 5th then destroyed some enemy machine gun emplacements and captured 19 enemy other ranks and killed many others who saw fit to resist. The 5th then returned to our front lines under a smoke screen. Major T.D. SNEATH M.C. was fatally wounded and died the next day. Four other ranks ( including Cpl Edward Millar ) and Lieut K.I. SUMMERVILLE being Killed in Action during the raid"
The other men who died with him were:
Lt Thomas D'Arcy Sneath, Military Cross
Lt Kenneth Ian Somerville, (DOW March 16th)
Pte Joseph Merik, 195410
Pte. W. Davy
Pte James Arch Stewart, 124605All six men were buried with full military honours two days later on 17th March at the Thelus military Cemetery.Edward's Headstone inscription was chosen by his mother and reads, "SLEEP ON DEAR SON, THY TROUBLES ARE O'RE, SADLY MISSED" A FINE & HISTORICALLY IMPORTANT GROUP TO A VALIANT SCOTSMAN WHO MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE FOR KING & EMPIRE DURING THE GREAT WAR.Comes complete with 19 pages of research paperwork which includes, Canadian Attestation papers.Interesting war graves headstone papers, copies of the relevant War Diary entries and colour pictures of headstone and cemetery etc.MEDALS ARE MINT STATE WITH THEIR ORIGINAL RIBBONS. MEMORIAL CROSS IS COMPLETE WITH ITS ORIGINAL CROWN CRESTED PRESENTATION BOX.
£1595