Soldier funeral at historic fort

17 September 2009

This News Item courtesy of: BBC

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Sgt Millar's coffin is carried to the kirk at Fort George The funeral service for a soldier killed in Afghanistan has taken place in the church where he got married. Mourners gathered at the small kirk within the walls of Fort George, near Inverness, to pay tribute to Sgt Stuart "Gus" Millar. The 40-year-old's wedding to wife Gillian - mother of his two-year-old daughter - was held at the same venue. Sgt Millar, from Inverness, died alongside Pte Kevin Elliott, 24, from Dundee, in Helmand on 31 August. The soldiers were caught in an explosion when insurgents used rocket-propelled grenades to mount an ambush. It is hoped that his young family will draw considerable strength from the memories they all cherish from the rock that Gus was Major David Bruce Black Watch Their battalion - the Black Watch - is based at Fort George, an 18th Century artillery fortification. As relatives, friends and fellow soldiers gathered, Major David Bruce described it as another sad day for the battalion. He said: "This loss is unimaginable. It is hoped that his young family will draw considerable strength from the memories they all cherish from the rock that Gus was. "He will be remembered by his battalion today as they continue to conduct their duties overseas. He has given his life in the service of his comrades, and the people of Afghanistan." Before the church service, there was a flypast by an RAF Tornado jet. Coffin bearers were drawn from the sergeant's friends in The Royal Highland Fusiliers, 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland. Sgt Millar was praised by his commanding officer for his honesty Following his death, Sgt Millar was praised by his commanding officer Lt Col Stephen Cartwright for his integrity and honesty. He joined the British Army in November 2000, after service in the Territorial Army. Following training, he joined the mortar platoon of The Royal Highland Fusiliers and served in Northern Ireland, the Falkland Islands, Cyprus and Iraq. He moved to The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, as a mortar fire controller in Belfast in July 2007 and was deployed to Afghanistan in April 2009. Pte Elliott's funeral was held in Dundee on Tuesday.

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Widow of Scots soldier killed in Afghanistan pays tribute to her 'rock' as hundreds gather for funeral

17 September 2009

This News Item courtesy of: Daily Record

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THE widow of a sergeant killed on foot patrol in Afghanistan said she missed her "rock" as hundreds gathered for the soldier's funeral today.

Tributes were paid to Stuart "Gus" Millar, 40, of the Black Watch, at the service in Fort George barracks near Inverness.

Sgt Miller died in a grenade attack in Helmand on August 31.

He was attacked by insurgents while patrolling the district of Babaji with 24-year-old Kevin Elliott, who was also killed.

Words from the mortar-fire controller's wife Jillian were read by his friend Sgt Dougie Fraser during the 40-minute service at the Regimental Kirk - where the couple married last summer.

 "I grieve for plans we had which will no longer happen and the time together which we have lost," she said.

"I am grateful that I had Gus in my life and that he chose to be with me forever.

"Gus was my rock and my anchor and I will miss his strength and kindness."

Sgt Millar was born in Clackmannanshire and grew up in Motherwell.

He worked on the railways before joining the Army in 2000 and had served in the Falkland Islands, Cyprus and Iraq.

He was part of Operation Panther's Claw, the Army's mission to clear insurgents from an area north of Afghanistan's Lashkar Gah.

At the start of the summer operation he was filmed by an ITV camera crew. He told journalist Geraint Vincent, who attended today's service, he kept a picture of his two-year-old daughter Grace in his back pocket.

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