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Other Information / Remarks
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The village War Memorial, Soldiers Died in the Great War, and the London Gazette refer to Hector MacMillan as McMillan, however
the Commonwealth War Graves Commission gives his name as MacMillan. Because the CWGC collected information from a casualty's
family it is felt that the MacMillan variant is the correct one to use.
Hector Macmillan was a Scotsman, born in Glasgow, living in Scholes when he enlisted. His residence at the time of his
DCM promulgation was given as Beauley, Inverness.
He was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal, the award being published in the 3rd supplement to the London Gazette
issue No. 30346, dated Monday 22, October 1917. He died of wounds received in action at the Battle of Pilkem Ridge, which
was a phase of the 3rd Battle of Ypres, which is better remembered simply as "Passchendaele". Given the time delay
between his death and the announcement of the DCM award, it is likely that they resulted from the same action.
The citation taken from LONDON GAZETTE, 26 JANUARY, 1918.
63141 Sjt. H. McMillan, R.F.A. (Beauley).
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty with a signalling party in our front line. Finding it impossible to keep
a telephone line through to his battery he established a visual station back to the brigade rear observation post, and when
the smoke of the barrage made it impossible to flash messages any longer he undertook the work of carrying them himself, continually
passing through
heavy barrages with the finest disregard of personal safety until he was severely wounded. He was of invaluable service
to his battery, and his splendid determination and high sense of duty on these occasions was only one of many instances in
which he has earned the admiration of all ranks.
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