Heslop’s Local Advertiser 12/1917
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Nicholas Miller was born in 1898 at Felling, Gateshead, County Durham, one of 15 children of whom only 9 survived, he was the youngest of 4 sons and 5 sisters as well as the youngest of all his siblings. His father Joseph Miller was born at Penshaw in 1847 and married March 12th 1871 at Shadforth, County Durham to Dorothy Pearson native of Thornley born 1856. Between 1871 and 1876 they moved to Felling and in 1881 were living at Old Fold, with daughters Elizabeth (5), Mary Ann (3) and Sarah Jane (1), Joseph was employed as a coal miner. As the family grew they moved to Holly Street, however, as their elder daughters married and left home they transferred to 43, Elliott Street. In 1901 Joseph Miller was still employed as a coal miner/shifter below ground, daughter Emma (15) was employed at the printing works whilst Edward 11), Andrew (9), George (7), and Beatrice (5) were scholars, Nicholas (2) remained at home with his mother. In 1903 at the age of 56 Joseph Miller died, his widow Dorothy by 1911 was living at Christ Church, Whickham, Gateshead, she, Nicholas (12) and Beatrice (16) were supported by Andrew (19) a shift worker and George (17) a pony driver, both working below ground at the colliery.
On the outbreak of war Nicholas was 16 years old and could or should not have enlisted until he was 18 years old. Unfortunately, his military record is one of the 70% destroyed or badly damaged by the blitz of WW2, it is therefore impossible to know his exact movements. He enlisted at Gateshead and was assigned as Gunner 231700 to the 6th Reserve Brigade Royal Horse Artillery and Royal Field Artillery serving in France and/or Belgium.
Either seriously wounded in the line of duty or suffering from disease he was evacuated back through the lines to a hospital centre where the decision was taken that he be returned to England for further specialised treatment. En-route Gunner Nicholas Miller R.H.A. and R.F.A. died and was buried at sea October 23rd 1917. He was 19 years old.
His sacrifice is recorded as one of the almost 1,900 names of men and women of the Commonwealth land and air forces whose graves are not known, who were lost in transports or other vessels torpedoed or mined in home waters or who were lost or buried at sea, inscribed on the Hollybrook Memorial, Southampton, Hampshire.
His mother Dorothy received all monies due to him and his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Dorothy Miller nee Pearson died at Gateshead aged 77 years in 1933,
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Heslop’s Local Advertiser 12/1917 carries a notice which reads:
“Gunner Nicholas Miller, R.F.A., died at sea, Oct. 23rd, aged 19 years and 3 months. Youngest son of Dorothy and the late Joseph Miller of Dunston, late of Felling.”
Nicholas Miller is remembered at Dunson on D31.01
