James Miller (VC 1916)

Recipient of the Victoria Cross

Not to be confused with James Miller (VC 1857).

James Miller

Miller depicted in a cigarette card

Born| (1890-03-13)13 March 1890
Hoghton, Lancashire, England
Died| 31 July 1916(1916-07-31) (aged 26)
Bazentin-le-Petit, France
Buried|

Dartmoor Cemetery, France

Allegiance|  United Kingdom
Branch|  British Army
Years of service| 1914–1916 †
Rank| Private
Unit| King's Own (Royal Lancaster) Regiment
Battles / wars| World War I

* Battle of the Somme  †

Awards| Victoria Cross

James Miller VC (13 March 1890 – 31 July 1916) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

## Biography

[edit]

Memorial to Miller in Withnell, Lancs

Miller was born on 13 March 1890 in Hoghton, Lancashire.[1][2] He worked at a paper mill until the outbreak of the First World War when, in September 1914, he joined the army. He went to France in July 1915 with the King's Own (Royal Lancaster) Regiment and saw action that autumn at the Battle of Loos. His battalion then took part in the Battle of the Somme from early July 1916.[1]

Miller was a 26 years old private in the 7th Battalion, The King's Own (Royal Lancaster) Regiment during the First World War when the following deed took place on 30/31 July 1916 at Bazentin-le-Petit, France for which he was awarded the VC:

> For most conspicuous bravery. His battalion was consolidating a position after its capture by assault. Private Miller was ordered to take an important message under heavy shell and rifle fire and to bring back a reply at all costs. He was compelled to cross the open, and on leaving the trench was shot almost immediately in the back, the bullet coming out through his abdomen. In spite of this, with heroic courage and self-sacrifice, he compressed with his hand the gaping wound in his abdomen, delivered his message, staggered back with the answer, and fell at the feet of the officer to whom he delivered it. He gave his life with a supreme devotion to duty.[3]

Miller is buried in Dartmoor Cemetery, Bécordel-Bécourt, France.[4] In 1917 a memorial to him was erected in Withnell churchyard in the town where he worked as a paper mill worker.[5] In 2024 the memorial was given Grade II listed status.[6]

His Victoria Cross is displayed at The King's Own Royal (Lancaster) Regiment Museum, Lancaster, England.[1]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c "James Miller VC". victoriacrossonline. 10 March 2022. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
2. ^ Creagh, O'Moore; Humphris, E. M., eds. (1924). The V.C. and D.S.O. Vol. I. London: The Standard Art Book Company. p. 214. Retrieved 26 March 2025 – via Google Books.
3. ^ "No. 29740". The London Gazette (Supplement). 9 September 1916. p. 8871.
4. ^ "James Miller". CWGC. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
5. ^ "Biography". Withnell Fold. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
6. ^ Burnell, Paul (7 November 2024). "Memorial to 'remarkable' WW1 soldier listed". BBC News. Retrieved 8 November 2024.

## Bibliography

[edit]

* Gliddon, Gerald (2011) [1991]. Somme 1916. VCs of the First World War. Stroud, Gloucestershire: The History Press. ISBN 978-0-7524-6303-2.

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Duke of Lancaster's Regiment

Predecessors|

| 1st generation|

* Border Regiment (1881–1959)
* East Lancashire Regiment (1881–1958)
* King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster) (1680–1959)
* Loyal Regiment (North Lancashire) (1881–1970)
* Manchester Regiment (1881–1958)
* South Lancashire Regiment (1881–1958)
* 34th (Cumberland) Regiment of Foot (1702–1881)
* 55th (Westmorland) Regiment of Foot (1755–1881)
* King's Regiment (Liverpool) (1685–1958)
* 63rd (West Suffolk) Regiment of Foot (1744–1881)
* 96th Regiment of Foot (1798–1881)
* 30th (Cambridgeshire) Regiment of Foot (1702–1881)
* 59th (2nd Nottinghamshire) Regiment of Foot (1755–1881)
* 40th (the 2nd Somersetshire) Regiment of Foot (1717–1881)
* 82nd Regiment of Foot (Prince of Wales's Volunteers) (1793–1881)
* 47th (Lancashire) Regiment of Foot (1741–1881)
* 81st Regiment of Foot (Loyal Lincoln Volunteers) (1793–1881)

|

2nd generation|

* King's Own Royal Border Regiment (1959–2006)
* King's Regiment (1958–2006)
* Lancashire Regiment (1958–1970)
* Queen's Lancashire Regiment (1970–2006)

Victoria Cross
recipients|

* Thomas Grady
* Harry Christian
* James Miller
* Jack White
* Tom Fletcher Mayson
* Albert Halton
* Joseph Henry Collin
* James Hewitson
* Thomas Neely
* William Robert Fontaine Addison
* Harry Hampton
* Henry James Knight
* William Edward Heaton
* Joseph Harcourt Tombs
* Edward Felix Baxter
* Arthur Herbert Procter
* David Jones
* Oswald Reid
* Jack Thomas Counter
* James Pitts
* Robert Scott
* James Leach
* John Hogan
* Issy Smith
* William Forshaw
* George Stringer
* George Evans
* Charles Harry Coverdale
* Walter Mills
* Wilfrith Elstob
* Alfred Robert Wilkinson
* James Kirk
* George Stuart Henderson
* John McDermond
* Mark Walker
* John Lucas
* Euston Sartorius
* Spencer Bent
* Henry Edward Kenny
* William Young
* Alfred Victor Smith
* Richard Basil Brandram Jones
* Thomas Orde Lawder Wilkinson
* Gabriel Coury
* John Readitt
* William Ratcliffe
* John Thomas Davies
* Basil Horsfall
* Marcus Ervine-Andrews
* Willward Alexander Sandys-Clarke

See also|

* King's Division
* King's and Cheshire Regiment
* Lancastrian and Cumbrian Volunteers
* Lancashire Militia

Authority control databases: People |

* Commonwealth War Graves Commission

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