13th G.H. and port of Boulogne
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
William Miller, one of 8 children of whom only 4 survived, was the youngest of 3 brothers and had a younger sister.
His mother Diana Oliver Allison nee Watson, known as Dinah, was born in 1850 at 2, Vine Lane, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, the daughter of Isaac Watson, a joiner and cabinet maker and wife Isabella Watson, who at the age of 10 was living at 2, Vine Lane, Newcastle, in 1861. Dinah (20) was married in 1870 to cabinet maker Emerson Charlton Allison (18), in the census of 1871 they are listed as married but each were living with their respective parents, Dinah at 14, Hood Street, Newcastle, Emerson at Low Mill, Allendale, where his father was a farmer.
Emerson and Dinah do not appear to have lived as a married couple, neither did they have any children. Dinah formed a union with William Miller, native of Newcastle, where he was born in 1846. Their son David Watson Miller was born October 30th 1873, Robert 1876, William Jnr 1877 and Annie Carr 1880. William supported his family employed as an engine fitter, in 1881 they were living at 62, Oak Street, in the parish of Elswick. William Miller Snr died in 1888 aged 43 years, left without a means of support Dinah moved her family into a tenement building at 9, Fleece Court, Gallowgate, Newcastle, which housed five families, and took in a lodger, 38-year-old iron plater, John Moore, originally from Preston in Lancashire. His board was the only money coming into the household as Dinah was paying for her son David’s apprenticeship as a fitter and turner, Robert contributed to the household as an errand boy, William and Annie were scholars. By 1911 only William (33) a machine man (engineering) and Robert (35) a hand driller (shipbuilding), were still single and living at home with their mother, which was 2 rooms at 9, Suffolk Street, Jarrow. Diana Oliver Miller-Allison nee Watson died during the 3rd quarter (Jul/ Aug/Sep) 1911 aged 60 years, the death of Emerson Charlton Allison had preceded her own. Having emigrated to America he had died, November 22nd 1909, in the town of Gardner, Massachusetts, buried at Woburn, November 24th 1909.
Upon the outbreak of war William Miller left his employment as a machinist and enlisted at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, September 10th 1914, giving the name of his sister, Mrs Annie Curry of Beech Street, Benwell, as next of kin. William was posted as Private 13717 to the Durham Light Infantry then transferred to the 8th (Service) Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment, as Private 16685. The 8th Battalion was part of Kitchener’s New Armies, attached to the 62nd Brigade, 21st Division, at Birkhamsted, Hertfordshire, September 22nd. Initially in billets the new recruits were sent to Halton Park under canvas but by November 1914 the camp was a quagmire due to the rain and onset of winter, they were sent back to billets divided between Wendover, Aston Clinton and Western Turville, until huts had been built at Halton Park allowing the Division to return there in May 1915 for further training. Training was slow due to a lack of equipment, the first rifles arrived in June, in August they were moved to Whitley Camp in Surrey, where they were mobilised joining the British Expeditionary Force.
Knowing he would soon depart for the front William was married at Newcastle Registry Office, September 6th 1915, to his sweetheart Jessie Laird. Private Miller departed to France, October 3rd 1915, joining his regiment in the field at the conclusion of the Battle of Loos. October 21st they were ordered to the Armentieres sector for training and trench familiarisation. A few weeks later Private Miller found himself in serious trouble and was arrested, November 8th awaiting trial. The Field General Court Marshall at Armentieres heard his case, November 10th 1915. He was accused of, (1) disobeying a lawful command given by a superior Officer, (2) using insubordinate language to his superior Officer, (3) using threatening language to his superior Officer. Found guilty of all charges Private Miller was sentenced to 2 years imprisonment with hard labour, commuted to 6 months hard labour by the General Officer Command, 62nd Brigade November 10th 1915, further commuted to 3 months Field Punishment No.1 by the Assistant Adjutant General 2nd Army, November 22nd 1915. Field Punishment No.1 consisted of the man being placed in fetters and handcuffs and attached to a fixed object, such as a gun wheel or a post, for up to two hours a day. This usually took place in punishment camps a few miles behind the lines.
Private Miller returned to his battalion during February 1916, in the field, in trenches near St. Eloi. March 2nd as part of the 3rd Division the 8th Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment took over the line at The Bluff in flooded trenches due to a snowstorm dealing with constant German attacks. By March 6th, their numbers had been reduced by 55%, struck down by trench foot and exposure. April 3rd-4th the 8th Battalion was relieved by the Canadians and spent the following weeks alternating between resting, training and in and out of the front line at Dickebusch, near Ypres, in Belgium.
Private Miller was appointed paid Lance Corporal, April 17th 1916, in the Dickebusch sector whilst preparations were underway further south on the Somme for the offensive due to commence June 29th 1916.
Lance Corporal Miller was wounded, a gunshot wound to the side, April 26th 1916 and evacuated back though the lines until he was admitted to the 13th General Hospital at Boulogne. The 13th G. H. was, prior to the war, a casino situated near the docks which was requisition in 1914 and a succession of huts built to extend the facility, it was in an ideal position to repatriate the most serious cases to the United Kingdom for further treatment.
Lance Corporal 16685 William Miller East Yorkshire Regiment succumbed to wounds sustained on active service April 28th 1916 and was interred at Boulogne Eastern Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France, grave VIII. A. 101. Due to the sandy nature of the land the gravestones within this cemetery are laid flat. He was 38 years of age.
As per his will, Jennie, as sole legitimate beneficiary, received all monies due to him from the Army, his awards of the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal and a pension of 10 shillings a week as of November 6th 1916, sent to her at 25, Railway Street, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, then to 3, Prudhoe Avenue.
Further details unknown.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
William Miller is remembered at Whorlton on W53.01
