Photo: Pat Pierpoint
Photo: Brian Chandler
In Pegswood cemetery is a family grave which reads:
In Memoriam
Pte. Thomas H. Millar
20th Batt. N.F.
who died of wounds
received in action
April 29th 1917 aged 27 years
sand was interred in Duisans
British Cemetery France.
Eldest son of Peter &
Margaret Ann Millar
of Pegswood
Colin McMillan has provided the following:
Thomas Hanking Millar was born on 29th March 1890 to Peter Millar, a coalminer and Margaret A Millar. In 1891 Thomas was living in a household of eight people. The head was his grandfather, 61 year old John Hanking, a coalminer born in Coanwood near Haltwhistle. John’s wife was 55 year old Alston born Elizabeth. Their three children were also living with them. They were 27 year old coalminer William and daughters 25 year old Jane and 21 year old Margaret A. who was married to 23 year old Peter Miller. Margaret and Peter were Thomas’ parents. 63 year old Thomas Hanking, a general labourer and brother of John was also living there. Their address was given as Halton Lea Gate, in the Civil Parish of Hartley Burn.
By 1901 Peter and Margaret Millar were in a different house, although still living at Halton Lea Gate. Their oldest son Thomas was now joined by brother John W Millar who was 5. Both of these boys were born there.
By 1911 Peter and his family had moved to Pegswood where they lived at 229 Titchfield Terrace, Pegswood Colliery. Peter was an engineman, Thomas, now 21, was a labourer (“at bank”) and John, 15, was a pit bank boy. Margaret Millar’s older sister Jane Hanking, (45), was also living with them. She was described as single and yet her 9 year old daughter, Elizabeth Ann Hanking was also there.
There seems to be a certain amount of confusion over Thomas’ military service. He enlisted at Morpeth and apparently served as Private 27889 with the 25th (Tyneside Irish) Battalion of the Northumberland Fusiliers. However, the first two figures of his service number, 27, would imply that he served with the 27th Battalion which is also part of the Tyneside Irish, but there is no record of him in any of the Tyneside Irish battalions as listed in John Sheen’s book about the 24th to 27th battalions of the regiment. Also, in Records of UK, Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919, there is a comment that he was “Formerly 27889 Durham L.I.” In addition to the above, information given about him on the NEWMP site has him in the 20th Battalion. To further add to the confusion the UK, WW1 Service Medals and Awards Rolls of 1914-1920 puts him in the 8th Battalion.
We do know that he died on April 29th 1917 as all sources agree about that. Also he was awarded the Victory and British War medals.
Thomas Hanking Millar is remembered in Bothal on B48.02
There is a “T. Millar” listed on the St.Aidan’s R.C. Church at Ashington A17.28
