Dorothy Hall has submitted the following:-
Donald McMillian, born in 1913 at Stockport, Cheshire, was the son of William, born 1879 and Eliza, nee Booth, born 1882.
Donald McMillian married Edna Maycock in Weardale in 1938. The couple had two children: Keith born 1938 and Marion born 1939 died 1940.
Edna was living at Lanchester in 1943.
The inscription – "With Sadden'd Heart From Toil And Care We Flee And Come, O Lord, Apart To Rest Awhile With Thee" was added to his headstone.
The Newcastle Journal 11/06/1943 reports:-
Mrs McMillian of Lanchester Durham who received the Military Medal won by her husband Corporal Donald McMillian was amongst those from the North East.
Mrs McMillian told me "It was in May last year that my husband was in charge of a gun post which was being heavily attacked. Twice the guns jammed but he repaired them. Early next morning he captured single handed the attacking force. A couple of weeks later he was killed."
Corporal McMillian's only son Keith, aged five, accompanied his mother to the Palace and proudly took charge of his father's medal.
Edna married Laurence Moore in 1952 and died possibly in 1998. Keith McMillian lived at Bradley Bungalows, Leadgate and died 2011.
Donald McMillian is remembered at Lanchester on L62.01 and L62.06
