One soldier's story - Capt. Gladstone-Millar, M.C.

William Ewart Gladstone-Millar was born in Paisley in 1890. He attended Glasgow University graduating with an M.A. and Bachelor of Divinity. He became a trainee minister.

In 1915 he volunteered as a combatant with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.

He did basic training at Stirling Castle, and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant. His first posting was to Mortonhall, Edinburgh from where the soldiers trained at trenches in the Dreghorn Woods in preparation for the Somme.

At the Somme in the battle for High Wood 1915 2nd Lieutenant Gladstone-Millar was shot through both legs. He chose bravely to crawl back to his own lines rather than be captured. He was operated on in a field hospital.

He was repatriated by train to Reading then to the National War Hospital at Bangour, West Lothian. After a year's convalescence he returned to active duty.

The now Captain Gladstone-Millar was recorded by the war artist William A. Farrell. The drawing depicts the 7th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in April 1918 defending the River Lawe at Locon.

In July 1918 he was in charge of 'A' Company at the Second Battle of the Marne. He received battle orders by signal. One instructed him to make ground. His Company advanced to Montagne de Bligny where he won the Military Cross.

In 1919 after serving in the Army of Occupation in Cologne, he returned home to life as a church minister.

When WWII broke out he went to the recruiting office in Arbroath to enlist. At 49 he was deemed too old to fight but was needed as a Chaplain.

His first posting was with the secret Commando unit at Lochailort, and his next was Operation Torch in 1942. His last was at Glencorse in 1945.

Captain Gladstone-Millar, M.C. had made very many close friends in WWI. The memory weighed heavily upon him of one young man, 2nd Lieutenant W T Radcliffe. When 2nd Lieutenant Radcliffe was killed right beside him, Captain Gladstone-Millar had to bury him in a makeshift grave as battle raged.

In the 1950s Captain Gladstone-Millar, M.C. visited this battle site to find the grave. On the first visit he thought he had found the site in the Bois de Courton. His memories came flooding back of the Gordon Highlanders being 'chewed up' by the French 75s (artillery guns) due to the confusion of signals flying back and forth in English and French. He had just witnessed Scots soldiers being killed by the French.

On a return visit to France, Captain Gladstone-Millar M.C. discovered that 2nd Lieutenant Radcliffe had been re-buried in the nearby Cemetery at Marfaux. In his journal Captain Gladstone-Millar, M.C. described the scene very poignantly:

"Now there is no sorrow here, only pride.
There is the scent of roses and new mown hay. The sun
shines in a clear sky. There is silence for a moment. There
is no bird song."

For the full story, watch a short film about Captain William Ewart Gladstone-Millar on YouTube.

This material has been generously given by Lynne Gladstone-Millar, his daughter.