I still cherish the medal my war hero grandfather won
Proud Hugh salutes fearless World War One flier
A proud grandson has paid tribute to a hero Paisley flier honoured for his World War One bravery 100 years ago.
Gunner Hugh McMillan was only 22 when he was awarded the Croix de Guerre by the French Government for his courage in helping throw back the German advance at the Battle of Arras, in northern France.
First mechanic Hugh had volunteered as a gunner with the Royal Flying Corps when he took to the skies as the fighting raged in April and May 1917.
Hugh was aboard one of only five RFC fighter planes which went up to challenge 11 German planes menacing Allied troops on the Western Front in a memorable dogfight.
The brave fliers were 20 miles behind enemy lines, when they spotted and brought down one of the enemy planes, as well as forcing another German aircraft to the ground.
Hugh’s own plane was also damaged in the combat. His pilot was injured, and the brave Buddie himself was also badly wounded in the left arm and hand.
His grandson and namesake Hugh, 58, of Houston, told how his heart swells with pride when he remembers the bravery of his grandfather – as well as marking a milestone in his enduring legacy.
The airport worker said: “I grew up around planes as my dad worked at Glasgow Airport. I have always been interested in aircraft, so maybe the influence of my grandfather has followed me down the years.
“It was such a privilege to know him. Hugh was a quiet man, a modest man, and he would not talk about his experiences in the war unless you asked him.
“But he was a young man who enlisted at the outbreak of World War One when he joined the Connaught Rangers. He first went into the army, but he was warned that serving soldiers were getting killed in their hundreds, so he decided instead to join the Royal Flying Corps.
“He didn’t know the life expectancy of RFC fliers was only a matter of weeks.”
High added his grandfather began serving as a ‘ Ferry Pilot’, taking machines from the south coast of England over to the front for active service.
And he added that his grandfather, in addition to working as a gunner, performed dangerous reconnaissance missions into German territory.
He added: “He suffered frostbite in his hands trying to fix his camera while flying above the enemy’s position. He took his gloves off to get his camera working and the icy temperatures led to injury.”
Hugh said he still cherishes his grandfather’s medal along with memories of a “truly decent man”.
And he told how the hero was honoured during a flight to the USA on Concorde back in 1982 when the Buddie was invited into the flight deck to meet the captain and crew, who had learned they had a real pilot on board.
Hugh said: “When my grandfather was on the flight deck of Concorde the captain said to him it was a privilege to meet a real aviator. Which, coming from the pilot of the most modern aircraft in the world, really made his trip special.”
Engineer Hugh settled in Paisley and married Catherine, and they had six children.
He is buried at Hawkhead Cemetery in the town.