James Miller

Private, 7th Battalion. Royal Lancaster Regiment

Register No.: 871 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
Rank: Private (register: Conductor) all Privates →
Unit: 7th Battalion. Royal Lancaster Regiment (register: King's Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment)) all King's Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment) VCs →
Date of action: 30–31 July 1916 on this day → all of 1916 →
Conflict / campaign: First World War
London Gazette: 9th September, 1916 on this day → all of 1916 →
Born: 4th May 1890 at, Taylor's Farm, Hoghton, Nr. Preston,
Died: 31st July, 1916 at Bazentin-le-Petit, France
Award: Posthumous all posthumous VCs →
Memorial / grave: at Dartmoor Cemetery, France

Digest of citation

At Bazentin-le-Petit, France , Private Miller was ordered to take a message, whilst the Battalion consolidated its position. His task was, under extensive shell and rifle fire, to cross the open ground and return with a reply at all costs. Immediately on leaving the trench he was mortally wounded in the back the bullet exiting through his abdomen. Despite this he compressed his wound, with his hand, and continued on and delivered the message, staggering back with the reply. As he delivered the message to the officer, he fell dead at his feet

From Alf Askin's research notes

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

MILLER, James. (reg No. 871).

Private. 7th Battalion. Royal Lancaster Regiment.

London Gazetted on 9th September, 1916.

Born on 4th May 1890 at, Taylor's Farm, Hoghton, Nr. Preston, Lancashire.

Died on 31st July, 1916 at Bazentin-le-Petit, France.

Memorial on grave at Dartmoor Cemetery, France.

Digest of Citation reads: At Bazentin-le-Petit, France , Private Miller was ordered to take a message, whilst the Battalion consolidated its position. His task was, under extensive shell and rifle fire, to cross the open ground and return with a reply at all costs. Immediately on leaving the trench he was mortally wounded in the back the bullet exiting through his abdomen. Despite this he compressed his wound, with his hand, and continued on and delivered the message, staggering back with the reply. As he delivered the message to the officer, he fell dead at his feet.

Lancashire.

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Alf recorded the memorial as: at Dartmoor Cemetery, France

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