Ernest Millband

Ernest joined the Reserve Division of the Militia (Sherwood Foresters) on 1 December 1906; he was 18 years 1 month old and gave his trade as draper's assistant although on subsequent records he was a colliery worker. He was living with his parents at 10 Highfield Terrace, Mansfield. A separate army service record shows that he attested in the 4th Bn Sherwood Foresters on 19 January 1907, joining at Derby the same day and posted on 30 May the same year. He was discharged by purchase (£18) at his own request on 30 June 1908.

He then enlisted on 7 September 1914 in Mansfield and served with the 8th battalion Sherwood Foresters. Ernest undertook six months training at Harpenden and Baintree then served in France from 2nd March 1915. He later trained as a bomb thrower.

Ernest was promoted sergeant a few months before his death. He was killed by a grenade on 14th October 1915 while in a small party of volunteers holding a German trench that had been captured. (See 'Extra information')

He has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Loos Memorial, France (Panel 87).

Ernest and Alfred's father, Arthur Millband, enlisted in the Sherwood Foresters (Militia) in 1891; he had previously served in the 4th Bn Sherwood Foresters but had been discharged by purchase. Arthur was married, lived at 1 Providence Square, Sneinton, and worked as a labourer for the Cossall Collery Company. He attested in the Reserve on 5 August 1892 and re-engaged in July 1895; he was present for drills between 1892-1895.

Arthur Millband's brother, Alfred (b. 1867, Nottingham), also joined the army serving initially in the Militia (4th Bn Sherwood Foresters) but then in 1884 transferred to the Rifle Brigade enlisting on a Short Service Engagement (5 years with the Colours and 7 years with the Army Reserve) although he extended his service. He was 18 years 3 months old when he enlisted, working as a collier and living with his parents, Thomas and Sarah Millband, at 36 Trafford Street, Wilford Road, Meadows.

Alfred served with the Rifle Brigade from 1884 to 1901: Home 27 October 1884-11 January 1886; Gibraltar 12 January 1886-4 October 1886; India 5 October 1886-6 December 1886; Burma 7 December 1886-14 December 1888;, India 15 December 1888-21 February 1892; Home 22 February 1892-26 October 1901. Alfred had transferred to the Reserve on 27 October 1896 but was recalled on 25 January 1900 then discharged on 27 October 1901. He qualified for the Burma Medal and Clasps, 1885-87, 1887-89 (Third Burma War). Alfred married Emma Green in 1909 and in 1911 he and Emma were living at 187 Blake Street, Mansfield Woodhouse, with their two sons, John William and Alfred.

Alfred attested in the Territorial Force in January 1915; he was 47 years old, married and living at 161 Sherwood Street, Mansfield. He served in the Labour Corps (home service) and was demobilised on 2 March 1919.

NOTE: Photographs identified by a member of the family as (1) 'Ernest Millband with brother Alfred.' No details of Alfred's military service has yet been traced although it is possible that he served in the Great War. However, their paternal uncle, Alfred Milliband, was a regular soldier (Rifle Brigade) and served overseas, including Burma and India. An established medal collector has confirmed that the standing soldier in this photograph is wearing a Rifles uniform and that the medals are probably Egypt (Egyptian Campaign), IGS and the Khedive's Star. It is possible, therefore, that these photographs are of Ernest's father, Arthur, who served in the 4th Bn Sherwood Foresters in the 1890s, and Arthur's brother Alfred who, after a period in the Militia, joined the Rifle Brigade (1884-1901) and then served in the Labour Corps during the Great War. (2) Ernest 'taken while serving in India'. There is no evidence from Ernest's service records that he served in India and it is likely that this is a photograph of his uncle, Alfred, who served in India. (3) 'Photograph taken after the war of Ernest Millband's brother, Alfred.' This is probably a photograph of Ernest's uncle, Alfred, who served in the Labour Corps during the Great War. Alfred was born in 1867 and so would have been in his early fifties when the photograph was taken whereas Ernest's brother Alfred, who was born in 1886, would have only been in his mid thirties.

Registers of Soldiers' Effects: Ernest's widow, Sarah Hilda, was his sole legatee.

Mansfield Reporter, 5 November 1915: ‘Mansfield Woodhouse Hero. Gallant Sergeant Killed'

'The sad news came to hand last week (though unofficial), of the death of Sergeant E Millband, of the 8th Battalion Sherwood Foresters. He enlisted on September 7th, 1914, having served two and a half years before, in the Notts and Derby Regiment. He volunteered for Red Cross work, but did not wait to go with them. After six months’ training at Harpenden and Baintree he went to France on March 3rd, and took part in some severe fighting. He was chosen to be a bomb thrower, which is dangerous work. About two months ago he was promoted to sergeant, and this delayed his leave. Last week in the big battle which took place he volunteered with twelve others, including NCOs, to hold a captured position until relief came. After fifteen hours’ continuous bomb throwing only two were left. One fell exhausted, and Sergeant Millband took his place and was hit by a German grenade in the head and killed. Many kind letters of sympathy have been received from France relating how good a soldier he was and how sadly he will be missed. He leaves a widow to mourn her loss. They had been married only two years. His parents live in Manchester, having left Mansfield two years ago. Previous to enlisting he was employed at the Sherwood Colliery, and was well known in Mansfield.

'Dear Mrs Millband. You will by now have heard the sad news about your husband. I write in the hope that it will be some slight consolation to you to know he died very bravely doing his duty. He was, together with some other men, helping to defence a barricade which had been erected in a German trench we had captured. He was killed by a bomb which was thrown over the barricade by the Germans. Your husband and I had only become associated together quite recently when he joined my company. But in the short time we worked together I discovered him to be a most useful and reliable NCO, who took a real delight in doing his work thoroughly. His death means a great loss to us in our company, and we feel for you in the far greater loss it means to you. Yours very truly, JM, Com. Officer.

'Dear Mrs Millband. I write these few lines as a personal friend of Ernest’s, and am sorry to inform you of the sad fatality that has overcome you, but I expect you will have got to know of his death by now, but on behalf of the platoon to which he was attached, in which he was thought a lot of, being greatly interested in his work, which was, as I expect you know, bomb throwing. I did not happen to be near when he got wounded, although in the same trench. But they say he was hit in the head by a piece of a German grenade and died shortly after. The platoon, NCOs, and men send their deepest sympathy at the loss of so good a soldier, and I can tell you he will be sadly missed by all who knew him. I don not know his parents’ address, although I lived close to them when they lived at Mansfield. That is when they were in Highfield-terrace, and my parents live there yet, three doors from where they used to live. The parcel that you sent arrived her yesterday (Sunday), and it was divided up between the bomb throwers and platoon for if we had sent it back it it would not have got back to Mansfield, so it was thought best that it should be shared up between his pals. I think I will now close, I remain, yours sincerely, Lance-Corpl, W Harrison, No 2722 8th Battn,. SF D Company BEF France.' (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)

Note: 2722 L/Cpl William Harrison disembarked France on 2 March 1915. He survived the war and was discharged on 19 February 1919 in the rank of Sergeant.