Roll of Honour

Captain (Temp Comm)

Thomas Drysdale Miller

Military Cross

MA

Tom Miller, as he was known by all, was born in Kirkintilloch on the 14th of August 1888. His parents were the Rev. Andrew Miller and Isabella Elspeth Smith Miller. He was a pupil at Lenzie Academy and then the High School of Glasgow, where he was a regular prizewinner, a member of the cadet corps and an accomplished member of the shooting team. He sat the University of Glasgow bursary examination and took 11th place before beginning his studies in the Arts Faculty in 1907. Successful in all his classes, with the sole exception of Maths, his name appeared on the prize list many times, including a 6th place in Senior Latin and Greek, a first class distinction in Logic and the Buchanan (first) prize in Ordinary English. He graduated M.A. on the 17th November 1910 with a First Class Honours in Classics. Tom was a keen student, however and matriculated again for the session 1910-11 to pursue Honours in English and History. He became a Classics tutor and in September 1914 was offered a post in a large high school in South Africa.

Memorial chapel at the University of Glasgow
The Memorial Chapel at the University of Glasgow

While at university Tom joined the Officer Training Corps at its inception in 1909 and achieved the rank of Colour-Sergeant. After graduation he served in the 5th Scottish Rifles and it was no surprise that he was among the first to enlist when war began. He was gazetted 2nd Lieutenant in the 8th Border Regiment on 19th September 1914 and promoted to Captain on 20th November the following year. After training at Camberley he was posted to France and Flanders from September 1915. He spent the winter at Ploegstreet. The battalion was in action at Vimy Ridge and later, the Somme. It was for his display of courage in attacking an enemy trench on the 3rd of July 1916 that Tom was awarded the Military Cross on 26th August. His commanding officer described him as a ‘wonderful leader’ and the Chaplain wrote of his qualities as an ‘intrepid soldier’, and ‘a true and sterling friend’ with ‘a gentle manner and kind thought for all’. On 21st October, he led men of ’A’ company in an attack on Regina Trench. They reached it, but 28 year old Tom was killed. He is remembered at Thiepval, and at Kirkintilloch (Auld Aisle) Cemetery.

Comments and Citations

ROH Ch4/4/2/3/813,1140,1164

Registry and General Council

CWGC Debt of Honour

Obituary, High School of Glasgow

Roll of Honour Ruvigny Vol.2 p226 www.lib.militaryarchive.co.uk