Rushden Soldier Killed - Pte 'Joe' Millard of the Northants Regt - Terrible Damage by an Aerial Torpedo

Some extremely sad news has been received by Mrs J Tear, of 93 Cromwell-road, Rushden, which is to the effect that her brother, Pte H (Joe) Millard, of the Northants Regiments, son of Mr Eli Millard, has succumbed to wounds received in France. Although the news is not official, it is feared that it is only too true, as information has been received from two sources. Lance-Corpl F Tear (Mrs Tear's nephew) writes under date June 29th as follows: "I dare say you are rather surprised to have a word from me, but I thought I must drop you a line, although it is an every day occurrence, that 'Joe' Millard is seriously wounded, and I have since heard that he has succumbed to his wounds. Though it is not official I have heard it from a good authority. I would not have written only that I heard it on good grounds. It is a painful duty to perform, and I thought you would expect to hear from me, being in the same regiment and a relation. I never saw it happen, and only guess there is some truth in it, but I should wait until I had it from some higher authority."

The other information is sent by Acting Corporal G Line, of the same battalion, in a letter to his mother, Mrs C Line, of 116 Bedford-road, Rushden. He writes under date June 29th: "We have had a rough time in the trenches this time, and I am sorry to tell you that 'Joe' Millard has got his leg blown off, and has died of his wounds in hospital on the 27th. I have got his cap badge, and there are some letters that came for him, and two I took out of his haversack."

Acting Corporal Line writes that he will forward home the articles mentioned above. Continuing he says: "There was another one died of wounds, and four more wounded, making six in all. I was the only lucky chap that got through and it did upset me, but I had to make the best of a bad job, as I was Acting Corporal. I had just put the men on their posts and was walking down the sap when an aerial torpedo came straight into the sap and dropped on a box of bombs, cutting Joe's leg off and wounding four more, and leaving me there. You can guess how I felt."

The late Pte Millard was 23 years of age last March. He enlisted just before Whitsuntide, 1915, and proceeded to the western front a fortnight before Christmas. He was formerly employed by Messrs Lawrence Bros., boot manufacturer, Rushden. This is the second son that Mr Eli Millard has lost in the way, the late Lance-Corpl Arthur Millard being killed in action last year.