No.9405, Lance Corporal, Arthur James MILLER
Aged 21
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Arthur James Miller was born in Reach in 1893 (Newmarket Q4-1893 3B:507), son of Alfred James and Elizabeth Ann MILLER (née PARNELL).
1901 census...Aged 7, he was at Uncle Tom's Cabin, Swaffham Prior with his father Alfred J [42] labourer/publican; mother Elizabeth [42] born Stretham; sisters Rosetta F [18], Florence L [13] and Evelyn [3] and brother Charles W [14] (stockman on farm). All except his mother are recorded as born in Reach. 1911 census...Aged 20 (he had added 3 years to his age), he was in Colchester at Sobraon Barracks, in the West Yorkshire Regiment. At Water Hall, Reach, were his parents; brother Charles William (peat dealer); sisters Florence Louisa and Dora [20], Olive Winifred [8] and cousin Elsie Rose PEACHEY [9] all born in Reach. |
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He enlisted in Cambridge. Given the date he arrived in France it would be safe to say he qualified for the clasp to his Mons Star, but this was not instituted until after the war, and had to be claimed and verified, something that many relatives were unaware of.
The battalion were at Neuve Chapelle on the 10th March 1918. This battle is one of the poorly recorded battles. The attack started well enough but poor communications and delays along the communication trenches, plus stiff resistance at some German strong points brought them to a standstill. Delays whilst fresh attacks were planned also gave the German time to re organise their defences. Add to all this, at this stage in the war there was a desperate shortage of ammunition. That was one factor in the introduction in UK of licensing hours, making bullets and bombs considered to be more important than beer drinking! The 2nd West Yorkshires lost 27 killed, only four have identified graves. On 3rd April 1915, the Newmarket Journal reported:- DIED FOR HIS COUNTRY "On Monday last, Mr.and Mrs Alfred James Miller, of Reach, received, from the Record Office,York, an intimation that their son, Lance-Cpl Arthur James Miller, of the West Yorks regiment, had been killed in action in France, on March 10th. With the announcement came the following message:-"The King commands me to assure you of the true sympathy of his Majesty and the Queen in your sorrow. Kitchener." Lance-Cpl Miller enlisted in July 1910 and gained a second class education certificate in the same year. He also held a certificate for swimming. He was brought up in Reach, where his family is much respected. Mr and Mrs Miller lived for a time at Rose Grange, Burwell, but have gone back to Reach. Their daughter's husband has just enlisted. Lance-Cpl Miller's relatives have in their grief, the consolation of knowing that he has given his life for his country, at a time when Britain needs all the efforts of her bravest sons."
photo: Rodney Gibson and also commemorated on the Burwell war memorial click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
