9/55 Lieutenant Leopold Millard, (1892-14/7/1916). "walked into a trap"

During the afternoon the enemy had carried out a certain amount of artillery fire which had all the appearances of a ranging shoot. The misgivings and suspicions aroused in not a few minds by this action were later only too fully confirmed. Every man was in his position in No Man's Land at the appointed time, and the artillery support was forthcoming as arranged. But no sooner had our barrage lifted and the raiding troops proceeded to move forward than a concentrated and murderous shrapnel and machine gun fire fell like a thunder-clap over No Man's Land between our front line and the objective. Under this withering and devastating blast the raiders vainly endeavoured to press forward. The casualties became increasingly heavy; all the officers were either killed or wounded, and when finally the order came to withdraw, merely a handful of men remained to stagger back to our lines. The whole affair was a tragedy; and though no definite information could, of course, be obtained on the point, the natural conclusion come to was that the enemy had secured warning of the raid, and the 4th Company walked into a trap only too well prepared.  -Official History of the Otago Regiment.

Many Southlanders will read with regret the death in action, of Lieutenant L, Millard, one of the well-known Fortrose family. His father, Captain Millard, was at Invercargill a fortnight ago as officer commanding the mounted detachment of the 14th Reinforcements. Lieutenant Millard was an ex-pupil of the Southland Boys’ High School and was a prominent athlete. He enlisted soon after the outbreak of war, returned to the Dominion some nine or 10 mouths ago, and was married before leaving. He leaves a young widow, in Wellington.   -Mataura Ensign, 24/7/1916.

Lieutenant L. Millard, who was killed in action on July M. was the third son of Captain A. J. and Mrs Millard, of Fortrose, Southland. He enlisted as soon as war was declared, and left in October, 1914, as second-lieutenant in the Otago Mounted Rifles. During the first two weeks of the Gallipoli campaign he was on Sir Ian Hamilton's staff. He then rejoined his regiment and fought on Gallipoli until August 15, when he was invalided to Alexandria with enteric. Lieutenant Millard returned to New Zealand on sick leave in October, 1915, and returned to the front again in February, 1916. He was then promoted to first lieutenant, and left Egypt in May in charge of troops bound for France. Lieutenant Millard haves a young widow, formerly Miss Flora McDonald, of Woodlands, Southland.  -Otago Witness, 9/8/1916.

An impressive memorial service in connection with the recent death of Lieut. Leonard Millard (killed in action in France), of the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces, was conducted on Sunday morning by Rev. H. J. L. Goldthorpe, vicar of Wyndham-Fortrose parish, in St. Cyprian’s Church, Fortrose, says the Wyndham Farmer. Special reference was made by the preacher to the many sterling qualities of this promising young officer, who after distinguishing himself in the Gallipoli campaign, returned to the dominion on sick leave, and to his again resuming active service so soon as was permissible. Rev. Mr Goldthorpe also mentioned that the deceased’s father (Captain Arthur J. Millard, New Zealand Mounted Brigade) and a brother (Lieut. Gordon Millard, Royal Navy) ere both serving their country faithfully and well in these momentous times; and he expressed the deepest sympathy of the congregation, and of the residents of the Lower Mataura district as a whole, for the sorrowing young widow and the parents and brother of one who had made the supreme sacrifice on behalf of the Empire. During the service the hymns, “When Our Heads are Bow’d with Woe” and "Now the laborer's Task is O’er” were sung with feeling and reverence.  -Southland Times, 4/8/1916.

Fortrose Cemetery.