Friends of the Somme - Mid Ulster Branch  
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13322   Lance Sergeant Robert James Millar
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Dated added: 30/12/2015   Last updated: 01/05/2020
Personal Details
Regiment/Service: 9th Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers (British Army)
Died: 01/07/1916 (Killed in Action)
Age: 40
Summary      
Robert Millar was a son of Joseph and Mary Millar of Millburn Street, Cookstown. He was married to Elizabeth Jane Millar of Eagralougher, Loughgall, County Armagh. He enlisted at Kingstown with the 9th Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers and was sent to France in October of 1915 in time for the build up to the Somme Offensive. He was killed in action on the 1st July 1916 in ‘No Mans Land’
Further Information
Robert James Millar was a son of Joseph and Mary Millar.
There was a Joseph Miller who married a Mary Guess on 5th March 1870 in Cookstown. There was also a Joseph Miller who married a Mary Crooks on 23rd July 1870 in Cookstown.
Robert was born about 1876 in Derryloran, Cookstown.
The 1901 census lists Robert as age 25, living with his mother at house 21 in Millburn Street, Cookstown. His father had died. Robert worked as a tailor.
Millburn Street, Cookstown
The 1911 census lists Robert James as age 36, living with his mother at house 13 in Millburn Street, Cookstown.
Robert was the husband of Elizabeth Jane Millar.
Robert Millar enlisted at Kingstown, now Dun Laoghaire, with the 9th Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers.
Medal card
Robert Millar was sent to France in October of 1915 in time for the build up to the Somme Offensive.
In April 1916, Lance Corporal Robert Miller of No 2 Company was appointed Acting Corporal.
From the Tyrone Constitution dated 28th April 1916: Promotions and Appointments (truncated version)
The following promotions and appointments in the 9th Inniskillings are notified:- 13322 Lance Corporal R Miller, No 2 Company, appointed Acting Corporal.
In May 1916, Corporal Bob Millar, writing to his friends in Cookstown, said that his platoon had sustained some losses which included Private Robert James Little of Cookstown, at whose funeral he attended later.
He also stated that when they left the trenches and returned went to billets in the rear, the building block caught fire and was burned to the ground and he had lost everything except the pants he was wearing at the time.
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated Saturday 20th May 1916: Hot Fighting and Hotter Billet
Newspaper Report
Corporal Bob Millar, writing to his friends in Oldtown Street, Cookstown, says in a two day visit to the trenches his platoon got it very hot and had some losses which included R Little, Blue Doors, Cookstown, at whose funeral he attended later. They gave as good as they got however, going into the German trenches and bombing them out of their dugouts and killing a good many. It was the hottest time he has had. When they left the trenches and went to billets in the rear, misfortune followed them for the building block took fire and was burned to the ground and all his clothes, razors, pipe, knife, etc., in fact every article except the pants he was wearing at the time were consumed. His losses include articles recently received from home. In a further letter sent later, Millar says he has also lost a lot of souvenirs that he had to bring home. His clothing losses had been made good however, as he had received a parcel from Mrs John Glasgow with the necessary articles. Referring to the Dublin Rising, he says that it was his reserve battalion that was engaged there. He saw in the Mail some Cookstown people’s opinion of it. If they had been out with him at the previous Sunday night’s engagement he wondered what they would have thought.
From the Tyrone Constitution dated 23rd June 1916: Promotions and Appointments (truncated version):
The Commanding Officer has been pleased to make the following promotions and appointments, No 2 Company:- 13322 Lance Corporal (Acting Corporal) R Miller, appointed paid Lance Sergeant from 19th May 1916. Vice Lance Sergeant Adams promoted.
Lance Sergeant Robert Millar was killed in action in France on the first day of the Battle of the Somme on Saturday 1st July 1916.
From the Belfast Newsletter dated 26th July 1916:
Millar, Sergeant, husband of Mrs Millar, Eagralougher, Loughgall, killed
Lance Sergeant Millar has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial in France.
Lance Sergeant Robert James Millar is commemorated locally on Cookstown Cenotaph and St Luran’s Church of Ireland Roll of Honour, Derryloran, Cookstown.
World War Two
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 6th June 1942: W C Miller (son of Lance Sergeant Robert James Millar)
Constable W C Miller (only son of the late Sergeant R J Miller of Millburn Street, Cookstown, who was killed in action at the Somme in 1916), has been promoted Sergeant and transferred to Londonderry City, after a period of three and a half years at Newtownards. The new Sergeant has been prominently identified with Ards and R.U.C. Rugby Clubs. He is a nephew of Mrs Hill of Millburn Street, Cookstown.
The CWGC record Lance Sergeant Robert Millar as the son of Joseph and Mary Millar of Millburn Street, Cookstown, County Tyrone. The CWGC also states that he was the husband of Elizabeth Jane Millar, of Eagralougher, Loughgall, County Armagh.
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Relevant Cookstown Area Locations
No Location Region Location Notes Longtitude Latitude
1 Millburn Street Cookstown North Census listing in Millburn Street 54.650826 -6.745860
References and Links
No Link Reference Map Doc
1 1901 Census lists "Miller" family 1901 census lists Robert as age 25 at house 21 in Millburn Street, Cookstown
2 1911 Census lists Millar family 1911 census lists Robert James as age 36 at house 13 in Millbourn Street, Cookstown Urban
3 National Archives UK Medal card can be purchased here
4 Private Robert Little Lance Sergeant Miller attended Private Robert Little's funeral
Cookstown District's War Dead Acknowledgements 2010-2023