George Millar


1910 - 2005

Author and soldier. Born into a wealthy farming family, Millar was brought up for a time at Boghall in Baldernock Parish (East Dunbartonshire). Educated at Loretto School and St John's College, Cambridge, he embarked on a career in journalism in the 1930s, working with the Daily Telegraph and then the Daily Express. He resigned to join the army and fought in North Africa in 1942, where he was captured. Held in an Italian Prisoner-of-War camp for a year, he escaped while being transferred to Germany following the Italian surrender. A remarkable journey through Germany, France and Spain to Gibraltar followed. Returning to London, he joined the Special Operations Executive (SOE) and was parachuted into eastern France where he organised a resistance network to sabotage the railway system, disrupting German troop movements in the weeks following D-Day.

His service brought him a Military Cross, the Distinguished Service Order, the Legion d'Honneur and the Croix de Guerre.

He wrote a book about his experiences, Maquis, which for the first time explained the role of British officers in the French Resistance. This was followed by Horned Pigeon and his success as an author allowed him to follow his twin passions for sailing and farming. Further books followed, including Isabel and the Sea, A White Boat from England, The Bruneval Raid and his autobiography, Road to Resistance, published in 1979.

Millar spent his final years at his farm in Dorset.


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