Joseph Miller

Joseph enlisted in June 1916 at Sutton in Ashfield and served with “B” Company, 15th Battalion Hampshire Regiment, formerly 7th Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment and 2nd Battalion Hampshire Regiment. He was wounded and captured by the Germans on 5th August 1917. He died as a prisoner of war on 19th October 1917 and is buried in Hamburg Cemetery. A letter sent from a comrade: - “No doubt you will get a great surprise to receive this letter from me. I am writing to inform you of your husband's death, which occurred in this hospital on the 19th of October. I am aware of a letter he sent home to you on the 14th of the same month: he was then quite well and doing great, and the doctor was quite pleased with him. But during the early hours of the morning of the 15th he awoke and called one of his comrade's attention to his bandages. Something had gone, and he was bleeding. Sisters and doctors were quickly called to the ward. He was then taken for another operation; the bleeding stopped, and he was then put back in bed. He then seemed to be going on champion; he had an attendant alongside of his bed the following three night. In the early hours of the morning of the 20th he was discovered to be bleeding again. Doctors and sisters were again quickly in the ward, and he was taken for another operation. But this time he was very weak through the loss of so much blood. Doctors and sisters were working very hard, and after he had been sent out for a volunteer, one of the British; he wanted for his operation blood to keep the life in Comrade Miller's body. A volunteer was quickly there, a young fellow named J. Melia, 13th Battalion Cheshire Regiment, No. 33070,(Pte. James Melia, 13th Battalion Cheshire Regiment, who was captured on the Somme on 21st October 1916.) and he allowed the doctors to use his blood. I am told that whilst his blood was being injected your husband expired, despite the great efforts of the doctors. He was buried on the 22nd, having a military funeral attended by British, French, Belgian and Russian prisoners-of-war. It will content your mind to know that he was buried with full military honours, and that the doctors and sisters did everything in their power for him. Believe me, you have our very sincere sympathy from all his comrades in hospital here. – From Private A. Martin 282629, 4th Battalion Royal Fusiliers, Reserve Lazarette, Verden A/Aller, Prov. Hannover, Germany.” (Pte. Alfred Martin, 2/4th Battalion London Regiment, was taken prisoner on 19th June 1917.) Above letter courtesy of Jim Grundy and his Facebook pages, 'Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918.'

Article from the 'Notts. Free Press,' dated 14th December 1917 : - “DIED IN GERMANY. “SUTTON SOLDIER'S DEATH. “The death has taken place in Germany of Private Joseph Miller, of the Hants. Regiment, whose home was at 6, Morley-street, Sutton. Private Miller, who was 33 years of age, joined up in June, 1916, and was wounded and taken prisoner on August 4th last. Whilst in hospital in Verden, A/Aller, Hanover, he was twice operated on, and subsequently throat trouble developed. A letter dated October 14th was received by his wife to the effect that he was going on well, but evidently a relapse set in, for he died on October 19th. Prior to enlistment Private Miller was in the employ of the Urban District Council, and he was a man much respected. For about 14 years he was in the Parish Church choir, and was also voluntary organist at St. Modwen's Church for about two years. He was the only son of Mr. C. Miller, of Welbeck-street, and leave a wife of one child. “The following letters have been received by Mrs. Miller, and it is some consolation to know that – according to the messages received good treatment whilst in hospital in Germany: – “We are much grieved to inform you that very sad news has reached us concerning Private Joseph Miller, Hants. Regiment. The following report appears on lists despatched from Berlin, 13/11/17; – Miller, Joseph, Private, 15th Hants. 'B,' [Company] born 1884, Sutton-in-Ashfield, died on 19/10/17, in Res. Laz. Verden (Aller) Frame. No further detail are, we much regret to say, to hand, but should we receive any later we shall of course let you know. We regret exceedingly to be obliged to convey most distressing intelligence, which, we fear, will fall the harder on you for the fact that your husband had been a prisoner for some little time, and you must have had reasonable hopes of his eventually being restored to you. Our sincere sympathy is with you in this great loss. – From the Red Cross Society, Geneva. Above article courtesy of Jim Grundy and his Facebook pages, 'Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918.'