Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
James Alexander Milling was born 1894 at Heworth near Gateshead, one of 8 children of whom only 6 survived, 5 sons and a daughter, born to David Milling of Armagh, Ireland born 1859 and his second wife Mary Ellen Harbottle, native of Felling born 1869. He also had 2 half-brothers from his father’s first marriage to Elizabeth Dodds who died aged 29 years in 1890. David and Mary Ellen were married in 1894 in the district of Gateshead living at 5 Garden Terrace, Heworth. James Alexander’s father was employed at the colliery as a shifter below ground, while he was a driver and his brother Robert a screener. His half-brother John Thomas laboured for a timber merchant, the eldest, his half-brother Joseph was married and living at 11, Dorothy Street with his wife Jessie Highton.
James Alexander Milling enlisted August 1914 at Felling near Gateshead and was assigned as Private 2113 to the 1/9th Battalion Durham Light infantry, a Territorial Force part of the Northumbrian Division. They were moved to Bolden Colliery then on to Ravensworth Park returning to Newcastle-upon-Tyne by October 1914. Mobilised they embarked for France, landing at Boulogne between the 17th-20th April 1915 joining the 151st Brigade, 50th Northumbrian Division. Entrained, by the 23rd they were concentrated near Steenvoorde in Belgium just as the German army had attacked nearby Ypres, using poison gas for the first time and the division was rushed into battle taking part in the Battle of St. Julien, Frezenburg Ridge and Bellewaarde Ridge, phases of the Second Battles of Ypres. Moved to the battlefields of the Somme they first participated at the Battle of Flers-Coucelette, September 15th-22nd 1916. Private James Alexander went missing presumed dead during the first day of battle. The CWGC have adopted September 15th 1916 as the date of his demise, killed in action.
His body was buried on the battlefield and marked with a cross where it was found after Armistice and brought into Adanac Military Cemetery, Miraumont, Somme, France, where Private 2113 James Alexander Milling was reburied with all reverence and honour, grave VIII. C. 31. He was 22 years old and single. The name Adanac is formed by reversing the name, ‘Canada” and was adopted after graves were brought in from the Canadian battlefields around Courcelette and small surrounding cemeteries. The entire cemetery was constructed around grave IV. D. 30 that was left in its original position.
His mother Mary Ellen as his sole beneficiary received all monies due to him, a pension and his awards of the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to her at 5 Garden Terrace, Felling, County Durham.
James Alexander Milling died just over a year before his half-brother Private 33307 Joseph Milling 10th Battalion Durham Light Infantry, killed in action December 18th 1917.
The death of his father David Milling at Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 1944, aged 85, came after that of his mother Mary Ellen who passed away in 1937 at Gateshead, aged 68 years.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
James Alexander Milling is remembered at Felling on F32.01 and F32.23 at Heworth on H92.04 and H92.07 and at Windy Nook on W95.01 and W95.02
