George Harvey Mills was killed in action on this day in 1915
George Harvey Mills was born on 22 March in 1894 Edinburgh. He was the son of George Mills, a draper, and his wife Bertha Agnes (née Smith). In 1901, he was living at 14 Howe St, Edinburgh with his father, mother and older sister Elizabeth.
He was educated at Musselburgh Grammar School and, later, at Daniel Stewart's College, Edinburgh.
On 13 March 1903, George's mother died.
On leaving college, he became a Cashier with Messrs. Maxtone, Graham & Sime, Chartered Accountants in Edinburgh.
In 1910, his sister Elizabeth married an Englishman, William Blakeway, in New Zealand where they made their home. Around this time, George's father also died (see later).
On 1 June 1915, he joined The Royal Scots, initially the 14th Battalion. His Service Papers give his address as 41 West Holmes Gardens, Musselburgh. He was 21 years old and 5' 9" tall. He gave his occupation as an Insurance clerk and his next of kin as sister Elizabeth, "address unknown New Zealand". There is no mention of his father, in fact, subsequently, the CWGC describes him as the "son of the late George Mills".
His will, which he signed in September, leaves everything to his father's older sister, his aunt Anne Elizabeth Mills.
On 2 October 1915, George went to France, now with the 13th Battalion.
On 19 November, the War Diary describes how German artillery ranged on smoke rising from the British trenches. George was killed near Vermelles when a German shell burst in the reserve trench dug-out he was in, killing 3 men and injuring 4.
He was buried "in the field" at Le Haie, just east of Vermelles. His grave was lost and he is commemorated on the Loos Memorial.
23128 Private George Harvey Mills, 13th (Service) Battalion, The Royal Scots