Canada, Cef. An Auxiliary Forces Long Service Medal Group, 3Rd Infantry Battalion, Toronto Regiment

1914-15 Star (A4156 Pte N.C. MILLARD. 3/CAN:INF:); British War Medal (404156 PTE. N.C. MILLARD. 3-CAN. INF.); Victory Medal (404156 PTE. N.C. MILLARD. 3-CAN. INF.); and Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service Medal, George V (C.Q.M.S. N.C. MILLARD TOR. REGT.). Naming is officially impressed. Mounted to a suspension with swing bar pinback, as worn by the veteran, dark patina on the two silver medals, edge wear and bruising, edge nicks on the VM and CAFLSM, original ribbons, very fine.

Footnote: Norman Conrad Millard was born on October 22, 1895 in Toronto, Ontario. He had Scarlet Fever twice when he was a child, at ages 7 and 10. He signed his Attestation Paper as a Private (A4156, which was later changed to 404156) with the 35th Infantry Battalion, on April 8, 1915 in Toronto, Ontario, at the age of 19, naming his next-of-kin as his mother, Louisa Charlotte Millard of Toronto (which was later altered when he was in England, to his new wife, Mrs. Florence Millard of St. Leonards-on-Sea, Sussex), stating that he was with an Active Militia, that he was not married, that his religion was Church of England and that his trade was that of Driver (also acknowledged as Labourer in his records). The Battalion was raised and mobilized in Toronto, Ontario under the authority of G.O. 86, July 1, 1915.

The Battalion sailed October 16, 1915 aboard the S.S. Metagawa, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel F.C. McCordick with a strength of 41 officers and 1,105 other ranks, arriving in England on the 25th. Upon arrival in England, he was posted to the 23rd Reserve Battalion for training. Private Millard was transferred from the 23rd Reserve Battalion to the 3rd Infantry Battalion for overseas service in the French theatre, on June 14, 1915. Just before leaving for overseas, on July 15th, he was Confined to Base for 14 days and forfeited 2 days' pay for being Absent Without Leave. He left for France on July 16th, arriving in Boulogne on the 17th and joined his new unit in the field. He was attached to the 1st Canadian Infantry Battalion Bombing School from November 18 to 29, 1915. Early in the new year, he was initially treated at No. 1 Canadian Field Ambulance, then at No. 2 Canadian Field Ambulance for his "Flat Feet" on January 24, 1916, followed by his posting to a Convalescent Camp on the 26th and his discharged to No. 3 Canadian Field Ambulance on the 30th.

He had been sick for a while, when he was admitted to No. 23 General Hospital at Etaples on March 11th with a case of "Bronchitis" but was treated for it accordingly. He sought medical help again, as he was admitted to No. 3 Canadian Field Ambulance with "Flat Feet" on March 27, 1916, the condition causing him pains across the arches of his feet and in the legs. His condition was severe enough to force his being hospitalized for almost seven weeks, before rejoining his unit on May 14th. He was admitted to No. 2 Canadian Field Ambulance on May 30, 1916 with a case of "Influenza", recovering after one week's treatment and discharged on June 6th, rejoining his unit on the 9th. Two months later, he was admitted to 1st Canadian Divisional Convalescent Company in the field with a "Concession" on July 28, 1916. He would spend the next eleven days recovering, before rejoining his unit on August 8th. Private Millard was hospitalized again, this time at No. 2 Canadian Field Ambulance with what was thought to be a "sprained left wrist" on August 22, 1916. He was transferred the same day to No. 10 Stationary Hospital at St. Omer with "N.Y.D." (Not Yet Determined), which was clarified to be a "fractured right scapula" at No. 14 General Hospital at Wimereux on August 25th. After a week, and having been in France for fifteen months with the 3rd Infantry Battalion, he was invalided to England.

He was admitted to No. 1 Convalescent Camp at Marlboro on September 1st, where he would recuperate for the next three weeks, before being posted to Base Details on the 18th. Private Millard was transferred to the Canadian Casualty Assembly Centre at Folkestone on September 27, 1916, which was followed by his being struck off strength to Administrative Staff Duty with the Dispatch Office at St. Martin's Plain on October 3, 1916. Seven weeks later, he left the Dispatch Office and was transferred to the Canadian Casualty Assembly Centre at Shoreham on November 19th, which was followed by his posting to the Central Ontario Regimental Depot on March 24, 1917. He was granted permission to marry his fiance, Florence, at St. Leonards-on-Sea, on August 20, 1917. He is also on record as having been attached to No. 15 Canadian Red Cross Hospital at Taplow, Buckinghamshire on October 5, 1917. Private Millard was admitted to King George Hospital in London on February 13, 1918, suffering from a wound to his right hand, the doctor noting that Millard's "right hand (was) cut by pushing it through a window pane of a railway carriage" earlier that day. After nine weeks at King George Hospital, he was transferred and admitted to the Canadian Convalescent Hospital, Bear Wood, Wokingham, Berkshire, on April 18, 1918, where its was noted that his finger was "good" but "a little stiff", with Millard released from hospital on May 14th. A month later, he was hospitalized for seven weeks at the Canadian Special Hospital at Witley with "V.D.G." (venereal disease, gonorrhea) from June 10 to July 29, 1918. Private Millard was on leave when he was admitted to No. 13 Canadian General Hospital at Hastings on October 4, 1918, with "Ankylosis" (abnormal stiffening and immobility of a joint due to fusion of the bones) of the third finger (ring finger) on his right hand. It was while he was in hospital at Hastings "for two weeks when it became infected and incisions had to be made by drainage", with the finger eventually amputated at the first phalangeal joint. He remained in hospital until being discharged on January 10, 1919.

In his Medical History of an Invalid Report, dated March 12, 1919 at Witley, the attending physician reviewed Millard's medical situation, in regards to his flat feet and his amputated finger. He noted that Millard had flat feet and a debility since September 1916, his patient also having had flat feet prior to enlistment. He was now experiencing pains across the arches of the feet and in the legs after marching about three miles and stated that he had no trouble with his feet before going to France, the doctor emphasizing that his left foot was worse than his right. Also mentioned was the amputation at the first phalangeal joint on his ring finger on his right hand, the doctor noting that "when the fingers are extended, the stump extends further than normal". Millard was declared Category B (for Service Abroad, not General Service), then placed on command to the Canadian Discharge Depot at Buxton. He returned to Canada aboard the S.S. Melita from Liverpool on May 3, 1919, arriving in Quebec City on May 12th. Private Norman Conrad Millard, 35th Infantry Battalion, 3rd Infantry Battalion was discharged upon demobilization at the Quebec Depot, Clearing Services Command in Quebec City, Quebec, on May 14, 1919, credited with having served in Canada, England and France, entitled to wear the War Service Badge, Class "A", number 303425. For his First World War service, he was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. Sixteen years after his CEF discharge at Quebec, Millard was a Company Quartermaster Sergeant with the Toronto Regiment, when he was awarded the Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service Medal by Government Order 45 in 1935.