Photo: B. Chandler
Per ardua ad astra
In
Loving memory of
John Robert Miller
Sergt. Observer, R.A.F.
No. 44 Squadron
killed in action, June 1941
aged 27 years
younger son of
Stephen Miller
who died 2nd January 1956
aged 75 years
And
Margaret Alice Miller
who died 12th August 1960
aged 75 years
Also Isabella Brown
who died 9th Dec. 1992,
aged 83 years.
And
Capt. Richard Brown, M.M.
who died at sea 30th Sept. 1963
aged 53 years.
Simon Glancey has submitted the following:
Sgt. Miller was killed when Handley Page Hampden AE129 of 44 Squadron was lost on a mining operation to the Friesian Islands. The Hampden returned early from its operation, and crashed on approach to R.A.F. Waddington.
Royal Air Force Bomber Command Losses of the Second World War: 1941; W.R. Chorley; 1993; Midland Counties Publications; ISBN 0 904597 87 3, page 66
The Berwickshire News Tuesday, 17/06/1941, page 3, reported his loss:
Berwick Airman’s Death
The death is reported of Sergeant Observer John R. Miller, of 3 Ivy Place, Berwick, a former reporter on a Berwick newspaper, and who, before joining up, was on reporting staff of Newcastle Daily Journal. Younger son of Mr and Mrs Stephen Miller, Sergt Miller was educated at Berwick Boys’ National School and Berwick Grammar School. On the outbreak of war, he volunteered for the R.A.F., having previously served in the Civil Air Guard.
John Jones adds that the pilot lost control whilst preparing to land at R.A.F. Waddington at 00.50. The aircraft crashed at Southrey, 8 miles WSW of Horncastle, Lincolnshire.
He is remembered in Berwick on B25.08 and B25.35 and in Newcastle on NUT069
