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Auction: 19003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 373

The Great War M.M. group of three awarded to Sergeant R. McMillan, 3rd Divisional Train, Canadian Army Service Corps, Canadian Expeditionary Force

Military Medal, G.V.R. (510187 Sjt: R. McMillan. Can: A.S.C.); British War and Victory Medals (510187 Sjt. R. McMillan. C.A.S.C.), good very fine (3)

M.M. London Gazette 24 January 1919.

Robert McMillan was born on 3 November 1886 at Aberdeen, Scotland, the wife of Nellie McMillan of 337 Gerrard Street, Eastern Toronto, Ontario. A horse driver by occupation, he attested for the Canadian Expeditionary Force at Toronto on 10 September 1915, his medical report noting 'tattoo of dancing girl on left arm, and Scotch thistle'. Serving in France from January 1916, McMillan was promoted Lance-Corporal on 21 June 1916 and Acting Corporal on 31 July 1916, the War Diary for the 3rd Canadian Divisional Train in August 1918 noting, 'Making out applications for immediate awards for good work during recent operations' and recording his name the following month. Gradually however, his health began to fail him, made worse by enteric fever and the continual stress and tension associated with the war.

Around 4 September 1918, McMillan took sick on the way up the line, and was evacuated the next day. According to his medical notes, 'it came on in one night' and 'he didn't know he was paralysed until reaching Boulogne about Sept 10.'

Diagnosed with hemiplegia and suffering from a partial loss of power to the right arm and leg, McMillan was invalided to a Canadian Military Hospital in Orpington in November 1918 with the added complications of influenza and pneumonia. At this point McMillan was placed upon the seriously ill list, but after treatments of daily massage and faradism, his health gradually improved and he was invalided home to Canada on 23 May 1919, being discharged at Toronto on 29 August 1919. He died on 25 January 1965; sold with copied service record.


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Sold for
£290

Starting price
£140