Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Private D. McMillan, Royal Scots Fusiliers, taken Prisoner of War at the Battle of Mons, 23 August 1914, on the first full day of fighting on the Western Front- his name was amongst the ‘first list of prisoners in German hands’ to be published in the British Press

1914 Star, with clasp (7730 Pte. D. Mc.Millan. 1/R. Sc: Fus.); British War and Victory Medals (7730 Pte. D. Mc Millan. R.S. Fus.) edge bruising, nearly very fine (3) £300-400

D. McMillan was born in Glasgow in 1886 and attested for service with the Royal Scots Fusiliers at Glasgow in 1903. He transferred to the Army Reserve in 1910, on completion of his term of engagement. Recalled to the Colours on the outbreak of the Great War, he was posted to the 1st Battalion, which was then stationed at Gosport, Hampshire, having been assigned to the 9th Infantry Brigade, 3rd Division. The Battalion entrained for Southampton on 13 August, and embarked aboard the troopships S.S. Martaban and S.S. Appam, landing at Le Havre on 14 August 1914.

By the 23rd August, the battalion was dug in along the southern bank of the Mons Canal, between Jemappes and Mons, and was fully engaged against the enemy from 11:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., when it was ordered to withdraw after its line of retreat became threatened. Retiring on Frameries, the right flank of the battalion came under heavy fire from the enemy who had crossed the canal in force, overwhelming “C” Company, and taking 120 men prisoner, including McMillan.

The following extract of the action has been taken from the Battalion War Diary WO/95/1431:
‘1:00 p.m. 22 August 1914 Ghlin: Marched North. Crossed Franco-Belgian Frontier and reached Ghlin about 1:00 p.m. Received orders to withdraw and take up entrenched positions on south bank of Canal from Jemappes to Mons guarding the 4 crossings in that section.

5:00 p.m. 22 August 1914 Jemappes: Dispositions made – 2 companies of Northumberland Fusiliers on right, Royal Scots Fusiliers on their right, and 4th Battalion Royal Fusiliers on their right.

11:00 a.m. 23 August 1914 Jemappes: Germans attacked in force at 2 left crossings – Royal Scots Fusiliers held on until informed that units on both flanks had withdrawn, and about 3:00 p.m. retired to the north edge of Frameries. Casualties, Captain Traill and Lieutenant Stevens wounded – 50 rank and file killed and wounded. Before the retirement all bridges were blown up (sic) and all boats sunk.

5:00 p.m. 23 August 1914 Frameries: The Germans followed up our retirement through Mons over a bridge not successfully destroyed and opened fire from the coal dumps south of Frameries. They also had brought artillery close up to the firing line. There had been no time to entrench a position so the Battalion retired to the edge of the town where they were heavily shelled. At dusk the enemy withdrew and the Battalion went into billets. Casualties – Captain Rose and Captain Young wounded and missing – 100 killed and wounded’.

Interned at Munsterlager and Soltau Prisoner of War Camps, McMillan’s name was featured in the 'First List of Men in German Hands' as published by the Graphic Magazine on the 29 September 1914. His name is also recorded on the International Committee of the Red Cross Prisoner of War Registers PA/3131 and PA/2844, which confirm he was captured at Mons on 23 August 1914, whilst serving with ‘C’ Company, Royal Scots Fusiliers.

Repatriated following the Armistice, McMillan emigrated to Canada, and claimed the Clasp and Roses to his 1914 Star, on the 6th September 1938, giving his correspondence address as 310 Jarvis Street, Toronto, Canada. He died at Ajax, near Toronto in 1944.