South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project

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The Fallen Men of South Warwickshire - World War One


Private 35021 Matthew McMILLAN - 2nd Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment


Killed in Action on Tuesday, April 2th 1918 aged 34


Military History

     
Theatre of War Medals Commonwealth War Grave or Memorial
France and Flanders British War & Victory Medals Moreuil Communal Cemetery Allied Ext
     
Arrived in Theatre Medal Citation (if app) SWFHS Area Memorials
After 1 Jan 1916 in France ~ Warwick (Eleanor Cross) War Memorial
    Warwick St. Paul
Action, Battle or Other Reason Killed Date and Place Enlisted  
German Spring Offensive  December 1915 in Warwick  
     
Place of Death Previous Regiments or Units Other War Memorials
Cottinchy  ~ ~
     

Circumstances of Death

Matthew is listed by the CWGC as dying on 2 Apr 1918 however we believe that is the last possible date he is considered to have died and that that an Army Pension Card, a newspaper report in the Warwick Advertiser and the 2nd Battalion war diary indicates that he was killed in action on 22 March 1918. The very brief war diary entries for 12th March 1918 to 11th April 1918 are transcribed below. There are no Reports on Operations included in the diary.

12th to 21st March 1918: "Battalion billetted in Saint Martin-au-Laert and in G.H.Q. reserve"

22nd March 1918: Battalion entrained at Arques Station and proceeded to Guillaucourt by rail where it detrained and proceeded by march route to Chaulnes encamping there for the night".

23rd March 1918: Battalion proceeded to Bethencourt where it took part in Enemy Offensive Actions

24th to 31st March 1918: Battalion took part in Rear Guard Actions during these actions.

Casualties during March 1918 - 35 killed, 174 wounded and 106 missing.

1st April 1918: Battalion relieved in the line by the French Army and proceeded to Cottinchy into billets

2nd April 1918: Battalion billetted in Cottinchy

3rd April 1918: Battalion moved by march route and bus to Riencourt

4th April 1918: Battalion moved from Riencourt to Le Quesnoy

5th to 11th April 1918: "Battalion billetted in Le Quesnoy reorganising and training".



 Personal & Family History

 

Birth Date/Place Baptism Date/Place
c1884 in Kilmarnock  
   
Parents Names Abode
Matthew and Jane McMillan
   
Wife and Marriage Details Children
Sarah Ann McMillan nee Wills                                Marjorie Elizabeth born 20 Jun 1915 and Lilian May born 2 Nov 1917
Oct Qtr 1914 in Warwick Thomas Henry born 17 Oct 1906 (stepson)
   
Schools Colleges
  ~
   
Address History Employment History
1884 - Kilmarnock 1891 - Scholar
1891 - 4 Brougham Street, Greenock 1901 - Gelatine Factory Worker
1901 - 41 The Rock, Saltisford 1911 - Gardener
1911 - 12 Bowling Green Street, Warwick  
1915 - 68 Woodhouse Street