Francis Thomas Millard enlisted into the General Service Corps and volunteered for airborne forces in 1945.Private Millard undertook parachute training course B173 from 22 July to 9 August 1945 at RAF Ringway. The course report states: ‘By hard work and perseverance reached the required standard.’ He went to the Holding Battalion and was later posted to the 2nd Parachute Battalion.

He died aged 20 years in Palestine on 26 October 1947 after being injured in an accident the day before in which the lorry he was travelling in collided with another military vehicle, killing fourteen military personnel.

Pte Millard is now buried in Khayat Beach War Cemetery, Israel.

NB Pte Matthews, also of course B173, died in the same accident as Pte Millard.