John Millie

Signalman John "Jack" Millie
26 May 1912 - 2000
Biography

Jack Millie was one of the radio amateurs recruited as part of the "Bachelors Hall gang". His wireless callsign was GM8MQ, later GW8MQ.

He was posted to Carmarthen shortly after Bill Bartholomew had set up the network there. Bill had made sure they were based right in the middle of the housing quarters of the ATS women. It is said he "charmed" the Vicar's daughter, Mair Evans, into marrying him.

After his time in Auxiliary Units he served in North West Europe.

His service record is here. It records he was 5 foot 3 inches tall with brown hair, hazel eyes and a fresh complexion.

Postings
Unit or location Role Posted from until
Bramley, Ardal 19 Area Signals Section Jun 1942 1943
Bramley, Area 19 Area Signals Section Jun 1942 1943
Bachelor's Hall Instation Royal Signals Support Feb 1941 May 1942
Kent Network, Area 13 Area Signals Section 1943 Aug 1944
Sevenoaks Control Operator 1943 1943
Regiment
The Royal Signals
Military number
2584633
Occupation

Baker. Later Radio Engineer

Career

Sep 1939 - May 1940 Signalman with 51st Highland Division Signals, Lance Corporal by Nov 1939.

Jun 1940 - Feb 1941 37th Independent Infantry Brigade Signals.

Feb 1941 - Aug 1944 Auxiliary Units (Special Duties).

He was initially stationed at Bachelor's Hall as part of the design and development team.

In late 1942 in a motorcycle accident he broke a couple of fingers while in Wales.

After Wales he moved to run the Area Royal Signals section in Kent.

Sep 1944 - Nov 1945 16th T.M. Section 21 Army Group

Nov 1945 Demobbed.

Address
79 Omar Crescent, Buckhaven, Kirkcald, Fife. Later 53 Little Water Street, Carmarthen
Other information

Born in Fife, Scotland, Jack courted and married the Vicar's daughter Mair Evans in 1944 in Carmarthen. They lived in Carmarthen after the war when Jack worked as a radio engineer on Little Water Street.

In 1950 he made the papers as he made his own TV set and was the first in Carmarthen to own a TV licence. The signal coming from Sutton Coldfield near Birmingham, 125 miles away.

Other pictures
Profile picture
Caption & credit
Carmarthen Journal 11 August 1950
References

RSARS

RSGB Bulletin Dec 1939, Mar 1941, Dec 1942 

Roy Russell and Bill Bartholomew via Brian Drury

Churchill's Underground Army by John Warwicker 

WW2 Medal Card

Service Record