Corporal John Millar. 1st King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry.
Born 1868,
He died from a fracture of the base of the skull when he accidentally fell down some stairs at Victoria Barracks, Belfast 23 July 1895 aged 27.
This cross is erected by the Officers, N.C. Officers and Men of the Battalion.
Laid to rest 25 July 1895 in Belfast City Cemetery, Northern Ireland.
Ulster Echo - Wednesday 24 July 1895
FATAL ACCIDENT AT VICTORIA BARRACKS. THE INQUEST.
Mr E.S. Finnigan, City Coroner, held an inquest at noon to day in the Recorder’s Court on the body of Corporal John Millar, of the Yorkshire Light Intantry, who died in the military hospital from injuries sustained by down stairs on the night of the 22nd inst.
Frederick Greenwood a private of the same regiment, deposed that on the night of the 22nd inst at 11.5, he was standing at the door of the waiter's room, when the deceased, who was under the influence of drink, came to him and asked for a pint of beer. Witness refused to give him and deceased then asked for Sergeant Blaney. When witness had gone for the sergeant he heard a noise as of someone falling outside the bar door. He procured a candle and found deceased lying at the foot of the stairs leading from the bar door to the cellar. There was a wicket gate nearly a yard high at the top of the stairs. Witness, with Sergeant Blaney's assistance, conveyed the deceased to the military hospital. Deceased was a drill instructor on the square.
Sergeant Blaney deposed to taking of deceased to the military hospital.
Captain C. K. Elliott said he called to see the deceased in the hospital between twelve and one o'clock. He found him insensible and with a cut on the back of his head. The cut would be caused by a fall, but was not of a nature to cause insensibility. He made a post mortem examination and found a fracture at the base of the skull, which was the cause of death.
The jury returned a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence.
Belfast News-Letter - Thursday 25 July 1895
INQUEST IN BELFAST. FATAL ACCIDENT TO A SOLDIER.
The coroner (Mr. E. S. Finnigan) held an inquest at noon yesterday in the Recorder's Court on the body of John Millar, a corporal in the King s Own Yorkshire L.I., who died in the local military hospital on Tuesday morning from injuries received through having fallen downstairs on the night of the 22nd inst. District-Inspector M'Ardle and Head-Constable Stringer were present on behalf of the police. Frederick Greenwood deposed that on Monday night, shortly after eleven o'clock, he was standing at the door of the waiter's room, when the I deceased, who was under the influence of drink, came to him and asked for a pint of beer. Witness refused to supply him, and deceased then asked for Sergeant Blaney. When witness had gone to look for the sergeant he heard a noise as of someone falling outside the bar door. He procured a candle, and found deceased lying at the foot of the stairs leading from the bar door to the cellar. There was a wicket gate nearly a yard high at the top of the stairs. Witness, with Sergeant Blaney assistance, conveyed deceased to the military hospital. Deceased was a drill instructor on the square. Sergeant Blaney deposed to taking deceased to the military hospital. Captain C. R. Elliott stated that he called to see the deceased in the hospital between twelve and one o'clock. He found him in sensible, and with a cut on the back of his head. The cut could be inflicted by a fall, but was not of a nature to cause insensibility. He made a post- mortem examination, and found a fracture at the base of the skull, which was the cause of death. The jury returned a verdict of accidental death, adding a rider recommending the military authorities to have a proper gate placed at the spot where the deceased fell.
Belfast News-Letter - Friday 26 July 1895
IMPOSING MILITARY FUNERAL IN BELFAST.
The funeral took place yesterday, at the City Cemetery, Falls Road, of Corporal John Miller, of the 1st Batt. King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, whose death took place under melancholy circumstances, at the Victoria Barracks, on Tuesday last. The deceased accidentally fell downstairs on Monday night, and sustained injuries which terminated fatally the following day. He was most popular among all ranks, and was by his officers appreciated and esteemed. The funeral, which took place with full military honours, was a testimony to the deep sense of loss which his comrades feel at his untimely death. The coffin was borne upon a gun carriage, and was covered with the Union Jack, and six corporals marched alongside as pall-bearers. Behind the cortege was a waggon bearing a large number of wreaths, contributed by all the corps in the garrison, that of the Royal Irish Rifles being especially beautiful. The procession was headed by the hand of deceased's regiment, and among the corps represented were the 1st Battalion King's Own Yorkshire, the Dorsets, the 13th Hussars, the Royal Irish Rifles, the Army Service corps, the Military Staff corps, and the military Foot Police. The officers present included Captain Witherby, Captain Ellis, Lieutenant Trevor, Quartermaster Patterson, and Sergt.-Major Wellbelove. The Band played en route Mozart's Death Song, Beethoven's Funeral March, and at the Cemetery gate the Dead March in Saul. The funeral procession was witnessed by large crowds of civilians as it passed through the streets to the cemetery. A salute of three volleys was fired over the grave by a number of officers of deceased's own rank.
