Name
William Frederick Albert Miles
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
163249
Machine Gun Corps
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Biography
William Miles was born on 24th September 1889 in Queensland. He was one of ten children (five sons and five daughters) born to Frederick and Elizabeth Miles. The first two children were born in Queensland, and it is not known when Frederick and Elizabeth, who were both born in England, travelled to Australia, or when the family returned. Four of the five sons served in the Great War. At the time of the 1901 Census the family lived at Hazelwood Park near Hunton Bridge, and Frederick was recorded working as a Gas Works Stoker. By the time of the 1911 Census the family had moved to Marlin Square at Abbots Langley, but by that time William, who had married Ethel Ward at Rickmansworth on 5th November 1911, was no longer living with them.
The National Roll of the Great War noted that William was called from the Reserve at the outbreak of War, and he was recorded in the Abbots Langley Parish Magazine Roll of Honour for the first time in September 1914, serving with the Bedfordshire Regiment. He was immediately sent to France, on 12th September 1914, and took part in the retreat from Mons. In the December 1914 edition of the Parish Magazine William was recorded with the 1st Battalion of the Bedfordshire Regiment. He served in the Battles of Ypres, and the Somme in 1915 and 1916. In 1917 he served at the Battles of Arras, in the spring, and Cambrai in the autumn. In all he was wounded four times, but on each occasion, after receiving treatment was able to re-join his unit. The October 1916 and June 1917 editions of the Abbots Langley Parish Magazine recorded that William had been wounded.
He remained on the Western Front until after the cessation of hostilities, and at some point transferred to the Machine Gun Corps. William was recorded in the Absent Voter Records for Autumn 1918 and Spring 1919, and was demobilised in February 1919, returned to 69 Breakspeare Road, Abbots Langley.
William Miles survived the War, as did his brothers Albert, Frederick, and Maurice.
Additional Information
Formerly 9189, 1st Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment
Acknowledgments
Roger Yapp - www.backtothefront.org
