A sketch of G P Mills in his cycling days
Saturday 23rd
September 1916: From our Correspondent in
the Field
We have heard
from the 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, that they are preparing to go
into action again. This will be their third attack on the Somme, following
Delville Wood and Longueval on 27th July and then Falfemont Farm between 3rd
and 6th of this month.
We heard that
Captain Leslie Keep of 7th Battalion was inspecting the area around Thiepval a
few days ago. His battalion is now on the move. This morning they marched from
Raincheval to Varennes, a few miles behind the lines. This afternoon the
second-in-command Major G P Mills has inspected reserve trenches near Thiepval.
George
Pilkington Mills made something of a name for himself before the war as a
champion cyclist. Born in 1867 he made a number of trips from land’s End to
John O’Groats by bicycle, at times holding the World record time for the
distance. He also won the first race for bicyclists from Bordeaux to Paris in
1891. He then began to race automobiles and motor bicycles. Having joined the
army in 1889 he retired as a major in 1906 before volunteering at the outbreak
of this war.
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