Pauline Priano has submitted the following:
Mark Easton Miller was one of 6 children of whom only four survived offspring of James Miller and Mary Hannah Easton. James and Mary Hannah, who was the daughter of tailor Mark Easton and Mary Anderson, were both natives of Newcastle upon Tyne, born March 3rd 1844 and October 3rd 1846, respectively.
They were married in the district of Newcastle upon Tyne in 1867, their daughter Mary Rosanne born April 18th 1869, Joseph, May 7th 1871, Nellie, July 6th 1873, Mark Easton, May 22nd 1875 and Colville Miller was born and died January 6th 1878-May 8th 1878. His demise was followed by that of Nellie, November 11th 1879. They and their surviving children were living at 230, Westgate Road, Newcastle, by 1881, where James was a provisions dealer.
Herbert was born, July 27th 1885 and although the family remained in Newcastle they had transferred to 14, West Parade, Elswick. Herbert’s elder siblings, Mary (21), Joseph (19) and Mark (15) were all employed as clerks. Over the next ten years they moved to a 9 roomed property at 81, Brighton Grove, Fenham, and by the age of 25 Herbert was also employed as a clerk
Mark Easton Miller emigrated to Canada in 1908, It is likely that he applied for a Canadian Land Grant as when he enlisted in the Canadian Army he declared he was a farmer. In 1911 he was living in the district of Thunder Bay and Rainy River.
When Great Britain declared a state of war existed with Germany, August 4th 1914, she did so without consulting her Empire or Dominions. Such was the outpouring of support Great Britain was sustained for the entire duration of the war.
Described as 5 feet 8 inches tall, dark complexion, brown and bald with blue eyes, aged 40 years 10 months, Mark Easton Miller enlisted, April 5th 1916, at Sleeman, Rainy River, Ontario, assigned as Private 820537.
He made a Will, February 6th 1917, in favour of his brother Joseph Miller and departed from Halifax, Nuova Scotia, April 28th 1917, aboard the S.S. Olympic, arriving at the port of Liverpool, England, May 7th 1917.
Posted to Digbate Camp near Shorncliffe Garrison, Folkestone he was taken on strength with the 18th Reserve Battalion until transferring to the 52nd Battalion Canadian Infantry, November 9th 1917 and on to France.
He joined his regiment attached to the 9th Brigade, 3rd Canadian Division, which had just participated during the 3rd Battle of Ypres in Belgium. Their next major offensive was at the Battle of Amiens, August 8th-11th 1918, the Battle of the Scarpe, August 26th-30th 1918 and Battle of Drocourt-Quèant, September 2nd-November 11th 1918 when the Armistice came into force and the guns fell silent at the 11th hour.
Private Miller during the Battle at Drocourt-Quèant suffered a gun shot wound to his right foot, evacuated back through the lines by the Field Ambulance he was admitted to the 20th General Hospital at Camiers, October 14th 1918. Two days later he arrived at the 6th Convalescent Depot at Etaples and went on to the 5th Canadian Depot at Cayeux where he remained from October 19th until November 5th when he was moved to the 7th Canadian Depot at Camiers where he remained until eligible for discharge, December 22nd 1918.
Transferred to England January 9th 1919 he joined the 18th Reserve Battalion at Seaford. Upon his return to Canada, he was demobilised, March 29th 1919, at Port Arthur, Ontario, declaring he intended to reside in Winnipeg.
Mark Easton Miller may have been married twice. His second wife Doris/Dora Marchuk was born, January 15th 1910, Pinewood, Rainy River, Ontario. They were married, May 9th 1933, their son Joseph who was born in 1935 died in 2015 and may have had a sister.
Mark out-lived his entire family in England, his brother Herbert Miller serving with the R.N.R. died at Lowestoft of pneumonia in 1918 and is considered a casualty of war. Mary Rosannah Miller never married, she died July 18th 1928, her death preceded that of both her parents. James Miller died, April 15th 1934, whilst living at Grove Lodge, Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne. Administration as per his Will to chartered accountant Joseph Miller, August 3rd 1934 in the sum of £171 8 shillings 5 pence. His widow Mary Hannah Miller nee Easton died, November 9th 1935, her assets in the sum of £1173 9 shillings 4 pence also passed to her son Joseph Miller, December 10th 1935. Joseph Miller, chartered accountant at 18, Market Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, died March 15th 1938 at his home 20, The Grove , Gosforth. Effects in the sum of £25600 15 shillings 8 pence to his widow Gertrude Miller, William Holland company director and Jeffrey Tailor, chartered accountant.
Mark Easton Miller died, October 10th 1942 and was interred at Rainy River (Forest Lawn) Cemetery. After his death Doris, who was 35 years his junior, remarried to John Outlaw Bonner and had several children. Doris Bonner-Miller nee Marchuk died at Regina, Saskatchewan, June 25th 1997.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
