A WORCESTER man paid an emotional visit to Crediton to visit the grave of a former friend, 50 years after he was killed in action in Aden, a seaport city in Yemen, by the eastern approach to the Red Sea, 170 kilometres east of Bab-el-Mandeb.

Gerald Donnelly came to the town to visit the grave of Derek George Millard, who had been a Guardsman with the Second Battalion of the Coldstream Guards.

The grave is in the Crediton cemetery and is inscribed: 24000081 Guardsman Derek George Millard, killed in action, Aden, January 14, 1965, aged 17 years.

"The earthly life is over, the daily battles are won, for a Coldstream Guard, who was 'second to none'. God bless you darling."

Derek was born on May 3, 1947 and was killed in action by a mortar bomb while defending the RAF Station at Mukerias, Aden.

Gerald explained: "I joined and trained with Derek and, with others, went to Aden in early 1965.

"He was a fine chap and soldier.

"I was pleased to see that obviously Derek's civilian grave was still tended.

"From earlier research I know that Derek's mother was still alive in 2010 aged 86 years as she received the Queen Elizabeth Medal at that time.

"It was, I believe, awarded to all next of kin of soldiers who been killed in recent conflicts."

Gerald said that he left at Derek's grave, a memento of his visit, a laminated copy of a photograph of their training platoon in 1964 at the Guards depot at Pirbright.

Gerald said he would like to thank whoever tends the grave to thank them personally.

If you would like to contact Gerald, please make contact through Alan Quick, Editorial Manager, Crediton Courier, 102 High Street, Crediton or email: [email protected]">[email protected] .

In addition to his grave at Crediton Cemetery, Guardsman Millard is remembered on the Crediton Town and Hamlets War Memorial, where his name is carved into one of the stone tablets.

His name is also recorded at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire.

Alan Quick