Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Benjamin Miller born 1892 at Gateshead, County Durham, was the only known son of the late Benjamin and Isabella Miller and married in the district of Gateshead in 1913 Hilda Harrison who gave birth to 2 daughters, Ivy born 1914 and Olive in 1915.
Benjamin, who at the time was living at Pelaw, enlisted at Gateshead in 1914 and was assigned as Private 2515 to the 1st/9th Battalion Durham Light Infantry, a Territorial Force part of the Northumbrian Division. They were moved to Boldon Colliery then on to Ravensworth Park returning to Newcastle-upon-Tyne by October 1914. The main body of the regiment was mobilised and embarked to 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. 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. Private Miller was not drafted as part of the British Expeditionary Force until October 30th 1915 joining the 1st/9th Battalion in Belgium.
Private 2515 Benjamin Miller Durham Light Infantry was killed in action, March 1st 1916, his body buried on the battlefield. After Armistice during the clearing of the battlefields his body was exhumed and brought into Larch Wood (Railway Cutting) Cemetery, West Vlaanderen, near Ypres, Belgium, where he was reburied with all honour and reverence grave III. B. 8. He was 24 years old.
His widow living at 11, Princess Street, Pelaw, County Durham received all monies due to him, a pension for herself and their two daughters along with his awards of the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Hilda remarried in the district of Gateshead Joseph W. Whittaker in 1918.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Benjamin Miller is remembered at Heworth on H92.03
