Dr George Robertson Mill R.N.V.R.
- Amanda T
- May 4
- 3 min read
The name on the memorial was Dr G.R. Mill, there was only one result on CWGC for this name and he was a doctor so I am certain it is the correct man. It is not known why he was commemorated on the Holy Trinity memorial as he did not live in Liverpool, he was appointed house-surgeon in a Liverpool hospital so may have interacted with the school on a professional level, or been involved via a charity or public health board.
Dr G.R. Mill RNVR
George Robertson Mill
Staff Surgeon RNVR
died 11/2/1918 aged 37
Surgeon and Agent Birkenhead, Mersey Division
Birkenhead Cemetery
Son of James Cellars Mill and Helena Valentine Mill nee Finlayson. Husband of Ada Mary Mill nee Ashton of 14 Buckingham Avenue, Birkenhead. Born at Watford. MD Edin Hon. Assistant Physician Birkenhead Borough Hospital. President Birkenhead Medical Society 1912-1913
G.R.Mill was christened in Watford on 22 Aug 1880.
The 1881 census shows they lived at 1 Home Cottages, Pinner St, Watford
His father, James C Mill was a railway clerk and born in Scotland
His mother "Elena" (Helena) Mill was born in Germany, British subject
George R was 9 months old. (The census was taken on the 3rd April so George was born around July 1880)
Sadly, in 1883 George lost both his parents, his mother's death was registered in the 2nd quarter of 1883, she was 36 years old and his father died in October of the same year, aged 39 leaving George orphaned.
The probate calendar shows that on 21 Nov 1883 Admin of the personal estate of James Cellars Mill, late of Fernside Villa, Bushey in the county of Hertford. Commercial clerk, a widower who died 18 Oct 1883 at Fernside Villa was granted at the principle registry under the usual limitations to George Mill of 59 Priory Place, Perth in North Britain, cattle dealer, the uncle and guardian of George Robertson Mill an infant the son and only next of kin.
The amount left by his father was £136 8s 4d
In the 1901 census George Robertson Mill was a medical student in Edinburgh and boarding at 32 Rankeillor St.
He was married in 1910 in Stockport, Cheshire to Ada Mary Ashton. The marriage register shows that George was 30 years old, a physician and lived at Ballavale, Park Road North, Birkenhead.
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Entry in the Medical Register 1915 |
In the 1911 census, Ada Mary Mill, married less than a year, was a boarder at the Westminster Hotel, Shaftsbury Rd, Portsmouth. George was enumerated as a medical practitioner at the Royal Naval Hospital, Gosport.
The Navy Lists 1910 - 1912 show George Robertson Mill as Surgeon, date of seniority as 8 April 1909
In August 1912 a symbol appears by his name which shows he was 'passed for staff surgeon'
November 1914 shows he was posted to 'Rewa'
August 1917 honorary staff surgeon.
There is also an entry which has his date of seniority as 8 April 1917 and lists him as a Surgeon Lieutenant-Commander but this listing also appears in 1919. It does, however, match the rank on the only medal-index I can find for him. I'll ask some experts about this as I really don't know much about naval ranks.
The University of Edinburgh Roll of Honour:
Arbroath High School. Student of Medicine, 1896-1901; MB, ChB 1901; M.D. 1905. RNVR, Surgeon April 1909; Staff Surgeon April 1917. Hospital Ships Carisbrooke Castle, Rewa, at Dardanelles from June to evacuation 1915, and Patrol 1916. Died on 11th February 1918. |
The probate record shows:
Mill, George Robertson of Ballavale, Park Road North Birkenhead. Staff Surgeon RNVR died 11 Feb 1918 at 7 Chetwynd Rd, Oxton, Birkenhead. Probate London 5 June to Ada Mary Mill, widow, effects £1930 8s 5d
Record on the CWGC:
Son of James Cellars Mill and Helena Valentine Mill (nee Finlayson); husband of Ada Mary Mill (nee Ashton), of 14, Buckingham Avenue, Birkenhead. Born at Watford. M.D. Edin., Hon. Assistant Physician Birkenhead Borough Hospital, President Birkenhead Medical Society, 1912-13. |
As the above newspaper articles report, George Robertson Mill died after a 10-week illness and was buried in Flaybrick Cemetery, Birkenhead on 15th February 1918.
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