William Miller
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
William was born in 1886 at Nottingham and was the son of William and Catherine Miller née Lamb. His father William was born in 1863 at Arnold and his mother Catherine Lamb was born in 1864, also at Arnold. They were married in 1883; their marriage was recorded in the Basford Registration district. They went on to have 10 children, sadly one died in infancy or early childhood. Their surviving children were: Mabel b1885, William b1886, Kate b1888, Ethel b1890, Thomas b1893, Harold b1895, Alfred b1897, Percy b1900 and Lilly b1902; all were born in Nottingham. William jnr. married his wife Emma Parr on 27th October 1910 at Hyson Green. They went on to have a daughter Doris Emma born 10th December 1915. The 1911 census shows William and his wife Emma living at 63 Melrose Street, Sherwood, he is shown as being 25 yrs and a postman and his wife Emma as being 22 yrs and a dress maker. They lived at 106 Ewart Road, Sherwood Rise at the time of his death although the later CWGC record has Emma's address as 97 Ewart Road, Sherwood. In the 1911 census his parents are living at 25 Osbourne Street, Sherwood and are shown as William 48 yrs a jobbing gardener, who is living with his wife Catherine 47 yrs and their children, Ethel 21 yrs a machinist, Thomas 18 yrs a plumber, Harold 16 yrs a postman, Alfred 14 yrs an errand boy, Percy 12 yrs a scholar and Lilley 9 yrs a scholar.
William attested on 9th December 1915 giving his age as 30 yrs and 4 months, his address was 63 Melrose Street, Sherwood, which was crossed through and the address of 106 Ewart Road, Sherwood Rise, Nottingham substituted. He stated he was a postman and his next of kin was his wife Emma of the same address. He was posted to the Reserves the following day and mobilised for war on 23rd June 1916. He was posted to the Royal Garrison Artillery Depot as a gunner on 15th July 1916. He landed in France on 15 th May 1917 and was killed in action on 4th November 1917. His record has notification from the Imperial War Graves Commission dated 26th September 1919 indicating that his body was exhumed and reburied at Potijze Chateau Ground Cemetery (grave ref. 2.C.S) and that his next of kin were informed.
CWGC headstone, personal inscription: 'Dearly beloved until we meet again loving wife, child & parents' His brother, Corporal Thomas Miller, “C” Company, 2nd Battalion (formerly 2/7th Battalion) Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment, was killed in action on 10th October 1918. He is buried in Busigny Communal Cemetery Extension. The following notices (1917 & 1918) of the deaths of William and his brother Thomas are courtesy of Jim Grundy's website about Hucknall in the Great War: “MILLER. – Killed in action, November 4th, 1917, Gunner W. Miller, R.G.A., aged 32, late postman, loving and devoted husband of Emma Miller (née Parry), 97, Ewart-road, Forest Fields. Preparations made unknown for my loved one's return home. Cherished thoughts, shattered hopes. God alone understands, I may some day understand. – Broken-hearted wife and baby Doris. “MILLER. – Killed in action November 4th, 1917, Gunner W. Miller, R.G.A., aged 32, loving and eldest son of William and Kate Miller, 1, Burnham-street, Sherwood. He will never be forgotten, never will his memory fade, loving thoughts will always wander, to the place where he is laid. – Loving mother, father, sisters, brothers Tom, Harold, Alfred (all in France), also Percy (with the colours). “MILLER. – Killed in action, November 4th, 1917, Gunner W. Miller, R.G.A., aged 32. Fond memories cling. – Will and Bella, Lizzie and Fannie, also Tom and Frank (with the colours). “MILLER. – Killed in action, November 4th, 1917, Gunner W. Miller, R.G.A., aged 32, late postman, of 97, Ewart-road, Nottingham. Ever in our thoughts. – From mother and father-in-law, sisters and brother-in-law, also Pte. Arthur Parr (in hospital), also Billie (in France).” [1] “MILLER. – In loving memory of Gnr. William Miller, R.G.A., aged 32, the beloved husband of Emma Miller, 97 Ewart-road (late Melrose-street, Sherwood), killed in action November 4th, 1917; also Thomas Miller, between 8th and 10th. They died that those they loved might life. – Loving wife; baby Doris. “MILLER. – In loving memory of our dear sons, Gnr. William Miller, killed in action November 4th, 1917; also Thomas Miller, [2] Sherwood Foresters, killed in action between October 8th and 10th, 1918, aged 25, after 4 years' service. Dearly loved and sadly missed. – Sorrowing mother, father, sisters, and three brothers (in France), 1 Burnham-street. “MILLER. – In loving memory of our dear son-in-law, Gnr. William Miller, R.G.A., killed November 4th, 1917, late postman. Too dearly loved to be forgotten. – Mr. Parr and family.” [3] He was the 32 year-old son of William and Catherine Miller, of Nottingham; husband of Emma Miller, of 97, Ewart Rd., Nottingham. [1] 'Nottingham Evening Post,' 16th November 1917. [2] Cpl. Thomas Miller, “C” Company, 2nd Battalion (formerly 2/7th Battalion) Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment, was killed in action on 10th October 1918. He is buried in Busigny Communal Cemetery Extension. [3] 'Nottingham Evening Post,' 4th November 1918.
