MILLARD, William John, 5113010, Corporal.
2nd Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment.
He was born in Darlaston, the son of Edward an Nancy Millard.
He joined the army at the outbreak of war and, after training, he was sent to France. He was one of those evacuated from Dunkirk in May 1940.
William returned to France in June 1944 and took part in the invasion of Normandy but sadly he was killed in action on the 20th July 1944 aged 23.
He is buried in Plot IV. E. 10. Ranville War Cemetery, France.
War Record courtesy of Brian Millard.
DARLASTON REMEMBERS 
Courtesy of Brian Millard.
This is a photo of my dad’s brother William Jack Millard who is remembered on Darlaston Cenotaph. Jack joined up on the day war was declared and joined the 2nd Battalion Royal Wawickshire Regiment. He served with the B. E. F being evacuated from Dunkirk on the 30 May 1940. He returned to France on D day landing on Sword Beach. I found an account of how he died in a book written about the regiment that I bought from the museum at Warwick. I quote.
”There were several gallant acts during this period. The next day, for example, B Company was losing men to a German machine- gunner firing from close range from Emieville, the village just beyond Cuillerville Wood. Corporal W. J. Millard crawled toward the enemy Spandau with his Bren gun, then got up and rushed it, firing from the hip. He killed two of the enemy, only to be mortally wounded himself. The next day the Germans had left Emieville unoccupied”.
Jack is buried with his mates either side of him, at Ranville cemetery. Just outside Caen not far from where he fell.
Morning
The War Diary (in part) records,
“18 July 1944 – During the afternoon information was received that 2 K.S.L.I. and Staffordshire Yeomanry had been held up in their attack on the woods round Guillerville and the battalion was ordered to move at 4pm to put in an attack on the same position.
At 4.15pm the battalion moved forward through the corridor to a concentration area about 4 miles south, where they dug in. “A” and “B” Companies and Battalion H.Q. came in for some very heavy shelling on the move up, which caused casualties.
The attack went in at 9pm and the leading companies made good progress up to within 100 yards of the objective. Here a long delay was caused by a long 20 foot high wall being met and fire from machine guns and one tank in the woods.
Eventually a way through the wall was found and the leading companies got on again. By this time it was getting dark and the battle became very confused in the thick woods and twilight. Leading companies were ordered to halt about 200 yards short of the final objective to sort themselves out and dig in for the night.
About forty prisoners were captured during this attack and a large amount of enemy equipment, including two 88’s. Shelling was heavy during the night.
19 July 1944 – At dawn the advance continued with 1 Norfolk coming up on the left of the battalion to the final objective. Mopping up operations went on throughout the day and considerable trouble was caused by German snipers everywhere. Finally, “D” and “B” Companies, both very depleted, were holding the forward positions, with “A” and “C” Companies forming a firm base behind. One platoon of “C” Company under Lt. J. Martin-Webb, was sent up to come under command of “D” Company.
At 6pm a German counter attack was put in by infantry and two Tiger tanks, which surprised “B” Company and forced them to withdraw, but was very gallantly beaten off by “D” Company and the platoon of “C” Company. During this attack, Major T.G. Bundock M.C. personally stalked and crippled a Tiger tank with a Piat. Heavy shelling all day.
20 July 1944 – During the day “C” Company took over from “D” Company in the forward position. No further German attacks were put in but there was a very heavy shelling all day which caused a number of casualties. A large number of German tanks were found in the area, most of which were put out of action by the air bombing of 18 July 1944.
21 July 1944 – Very heavy shelling all day. A patrol was sent into Emieville, which was found to be unoccupied and 2 K.S.L.I. moved in to take over positions there.
Regards,
Graeme
Thank you Graeme!