Hoyer-Millar, Francis Kinglake

Date of birth:: July 14th, 1919
Date of death:: July 1993
Service number:: 85212
Nationality:: British

Biography

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Military Cross (MC)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Temporary Captain
Unit:: "B" Company, 2nd Parachute Battalion, 1st Parachute Brigade, 1st Airborne Division, British Army
Awarded on:: September 20th, 1945
Awarded for:: Operation Market Garden

Citation:
"Captain Hoyer-Millar with two sections of B Company was ordered to hold a vital position astride the North end of the bridge at ARNHEM, soon after dark on D+1. As he moved into the position he was met by entirely unexpected automatic fire from a much stronger enemy force who had infiltrated under cover of dark. Without the slightest hesitation Captain Hoyer-Millar went straight into the attack and by the speed and ferocity of his assault killed ten and drove off the remainder. Later in the night he drove off a strong enemy counter attack from the South. On the morning of the fourth day Captain Hoyer-Millar took over command of B Company, when the Company Commander was wounded, at a very critical stage of the battle when his Company was being attacked and half his position had been set on fire. He displayed great courage continuously exposing himself to enemy fire, and so organised his defences that the enemy attack was repulsed. Later the whole of his position was set on fire but he continued to hold the area until ordered to withdraw. He then successfully evacuated the remnants of his company, himself remaining to the last. The whole of this time he was exposed to very heavy fire. Throughout the four days fighting Captain Hoyer-Millar had displayed the highest qualities of courage and devotion to duty, never sparing himself and showing complete contempt for danger."