Francis George Miles

Private, 1st/5th Battalion. Gloucester Regiment

Register No.: 867 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
Rank: Private all Privates →
Unit: 1st/5th Battalion. Gloucester Regiment (register: Gloucestershire Regiment) all Gloucestershire Regiment VCs →
Date of action: 23 October 1918 on this day → all of 1918 →
Conflict / campaign: First World War
London Gazette: 6th January 1919 on this day → all of 1919 →
Born: 9th July 1896 at Clearwell, Gloucestershire
Died: 8th November 1961 at Clearwell, Gloucestershire
Memorial / grave: not known

Digest of citation

Private Miles, single-handedly and on his own initiative made his way forward under extremely heavy fire, locating a machine-gun and putting it out of action after shooting the gunner. On sighting another gun close by, he moved forward again, this time shooting the gunner and capturing its crew of eight. Standing up, he signalled his company, who had been acting on his intelligence and had captured 16 guns, an enemy officer and 50 of his men. The machine-guns had pinned down his company at Boisde L'Eveque, France, 23rd October 1918

From Alf Askin's research notes

Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.

MILES, Francis George. (reg No. 867).

Private. 1st/5th Battalion. Gloucester Regiment.

London Gazetted on 6th January 1919.

Born on 9th July 1896 at Clearwell, Gloucestershire.

Died on 8th November 1961 at Clearwell, Gloucestershire.

Memorial not known.

Digest of Citation reads: Private Miles, single-handedly and on his own initiative made his way forward under extremely heavy fire, locating a machine-gun and putting it out of action after shooting the gunner. On sighting another gun close by, he moved forward again, this time shooting the gunner and capturing its crew of eight. Standing up, he signalled his company, who had been acting on his intelligence and had captured 16 guns, an enemy officer and 50 of his men. The machine-guns had pinned down his company at Boisde L'Eveque, France, 23rd October 1918.

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