Five: Flight Lieutenant T. B. McMillan, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, late Colour Serjeant, 18th (3rd City) ‘Pals’ Battalion Manchester Regiment

1914-15 Star (9901 Sjt. B. McMillan, Manch. R.); British War and Victory Medals (9901 C. Sjt. B. T. McMillan, Manch. R.); Defence and War Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf, unnamed, very fine and better (5) £100-140

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals to the Manchester Regiment.

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M.I.D. London Gazette 1 January 1946.

Thomas Bernard McMillan (’B. T. McMillan’ on BWM & Vict.) was born in Chorlton-on-Medlock, Manchester on 30 May 1893, the son of Thomas and Leila McMillan. He enlisted into the 8th (Ardwick) (T.F.) Battalion Manchester Regiment as a Bugler c.1911, being employed as a Shipping Clerk and also an officer in the Boys’ Brigade. On the outbreak of war he was mobilized as part of the 8th Battalion but as a Serjeant he was posted to the newly raised 18th (3rd City) ‘Pals’ Battalion. With the battalion he entered France in November 1915 and was later promoted to Colour Serjeant. In the trenches at Vaux, he was wounded in the chest by shrapnel, on 29 January 1916. After his recovery he was drafted as a Colour Serjeant with the the East Lancashire Regiment and in 1919 was transferred to the Class ‘Z’ Reserve.

With the onset of the Second World War, on 28 November 1941 he obtained an Emergency Commission in the R.A.F.V.R., as Acting Pilot Officer on Probation, serving in the Administration and Special Duties Branch. After training he was posted in December 1941 to No. 10 Balloon Centre at R.A.F. Bowlee, Middleton, Manchester, as part of the No. 33 Barrage Balloon Group. He was appointed substantive Pilot Officer in January 1942; Flying Officer in October 1942 and in 1944 attained the rank of Flight Lieutenant. Served in the 970 (Balloon) Squadron at Barrow-in-Furness, December 1942-March 1943, after which he served in 942/3 (Balloon) Squadron at Hull. In December 1944 he transferred to No. 11 Balloon Centre at Pucklechurch, Bristol as part of No. 32 Barrage Balloon Group, where he remained until Balloon Command was disbanded in February 1945. For his services with Balloon Command he was awarded a certificate of good service, dated 5 January 1945. After leaving Balloon Command, he was posted to Bletchley Park, Buckinghamshire - the camp dealing with secret signals and intelligence. For his wartime services Flight Lieutenant McMillan was mentioned in despatches. He relinquished his commission, retaining his rank, on 27 July 1954. He died in Stockport in February 1984.

With original M.I.D. certificate; certificate of good service and photograph of the recipient; together with copied research.