Royal Navy Badge
Medal Card
Derek Johnstone and Carole Fife have provided the following:
John George Millican was born 8th April 1895 at Stakeford Northumberland and christened on 19th May 1895. His parents were George Millican, a fireman at the brickworks from Bedlington, and Margaret Millican who was born at Choppington.
In 1901 John George Millican, aged 5, was living in the family house at 10, West View, Bedlington with his brother Charles (Clarence).
The 1911 Census records John and his family living at 11, Gees Houses, Cambois. John, now aged 16 was working as a brickyard labourer.
There is a marriage recorded in Morpeth in 1917 between John George Millican and Mabel Hamlin on 7th July 1917. This may be incorrect as his father is named as next of kin and the date is 7 days before his death in France 14th July 1917.
Military records show that John enlisted 27th July 1915 in the Royal Naval Reserve Division, Nelson Battalion. Additional information records he joined Nelson Battalion 9th January 1916 to 27th October 1916 when he suffered a gunshot wound left shoulder. John re-joined Nelson Battalion 5th December 1916 to 3rd April 1917 when injured again with a crushed right hand. He re-joined Nelson Battalion 2nd May 1917 to 14th July 1917 when he died.
The Nelson Battalion War Diary states: During day heavy enemy shelling by enemy 4.2s and 5.9s repeated through the night. 1 Other Rank wounded, 1 Other Rank killed. Special Memorial “Known to be buried in this cemetery”; A Fireman; born 9th April 1895; Next-of-Kin and home address: Father, George, 11, Gees Houses, Cambois Northumberland." The 'fireman' term probably relates to a role in the brickworks similar to his father as shown in 1901.
The name of John George Millican does not appear on any local war memorial.
