Pte 16320 Frank Edward Miller

• Age: 23
• From: Everton, Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Saturday 1st July 1916
• Commemorated at: Danzig Alley Cem, Mametz
  Panel Ref: V.W.7

16320 Private Frank Edward MILLER, 1 Company 18^th Battalion KLR.

Frank Miller was born on the 24th February 1893 and was baptised in St John the Evangelist Church in Everton on  the 29th March 1893. He was the son of John Miller, and his wife Elizabeth (nee Fitzpatrick) who were married on the 01st June 1876 at St. Chrysostom's Church, Everton. John was a brass finisher of Whitefield Lane, father John, whilst Eliza was aged 19 also of Whitefield Lane, father John. 

The 1901 Census shows the family living at 49, Faraday Street, Everton, Liverpool. His father, John, is aged 49, born in Liverpool in 1852 is a brass polisher, his mother,  Elizabeth is aged 44, born 1857 in Liverpool and has no occupation listed. They have ten children at home at the time of the Census, William aged 24, born 1877 who is a shorthand clerk, Mary aged 22 born 1879 employed doing housework, John aged 21, born 1880 is a solicitors clerk, Charles aged 19 born 1882 is an apprentice brass polisher, Robert aged 17, born 1884 is a provision merchant’s clerk, Henry aged 14, born 1887 is an office boy, Elizabeth aged 10, born 1891, Frank Edward aged 7, born 1894, Allan aged 5, born 1896 and Dorothy aged 3, born 1898. Their children were all born in Liverpool. They also have their brother in law Daniel Fitzpatrick aged 42, born 1859 in Liverpool who is a marble polisher. 

The 1911 Census shows the family still living at 49, Faraday Street, Everton, Liverpool. His father, John, now aged 59, is a nautical instrument maker and his mother Elizabeth is aged 54 and has no occupation listed. They have been married for thirty six years and have had eleven children of which one had died. They have eight children in the household; Mary Alice now aged 32 has no occupation listed, John aged 31, is a stockbrokers clerk, Robert aged 26, is a commercial traveller, Henry aged 24 is a clerk in the timber trade, Elizabeth aged 20 is a telephone operator, Frank Edward aged 18 is a clerk for a fruit merchant, Allan aged 15 is an office boy and Dorothy aged 13 is at school. That also have a boarder named John Wilson a widower aged 35, born 1876 in Ayr, Scotland who is a police constable living at the address.

He enlisted at St. George's Hall in Liverpool, on the 02^nd September 1914 giving his age as 21 years and 190 days, and his occupation as a clerk with Lever Brothers and his next of kin as his father of 49 Faraday Street. He was five feet seven inches tall, weighed 130lbs, 37” chest,  florid complexion, grey eyes, light brown hair and gave his religion as Church of England.

From the 23rd September 1914 he was billeted at Hooton Park Race Course and remained there until 03rd December 1914 when they moved into the hutted accommodation at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 18th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain.

He sailed to France with his Battalion on board the SS Invicta on 07th November 1915, disembarking at Boulogne. 

He was killed in action on 01^st July 1916, aged 23.

18^th Battalion Diary

At 6.30am the artillery commenced an intensive bombardment of the enemy’s trenches. Zero Hour – 7.30 am – the battalion commenced to leave their trenches and the attack commenced. The attack was pressed with great spirit and determination in spite of heavy shelling and machine gun enfilade fire which caused casualties amounting to 2/3rds of the strength of the Battalion in action. The whole system of German trenches including the Glatz Redoubt was captured without any deviation from the scheduled programme. Consolidated positions and made strong points for defence against possible counter attacks.

Graham Maddocks provides more detail concerning the events of the day:

As the first three waves began to move forward towards the German reserve line, known as Alt Trench and then on to the Glatz Redoubt itself, they suddenly came under enfilading fire from the left. This was from a machine gun which the Germans had sited at a strong point in Alt Trench. The gun itself was protected by a party of snipers and bombers, who, hidden in a rough hedge, were dug into a position in Alt Trench, at its junction with a communication trench known as Alt Alley. These bombers and snipers were themselves protected by rifle fire from another communication trench, Train Alley which snaked back up the high ground and into Montauban itself. The machine gun fire was devastating and it is certain that nearly of the Battalion’s casualties that day were caused by that one gun.  

Lieutenant Colonel Edward Henry Trotter wrote in the conclusion of his account of the day’s action:

I cannot speak to highly of the gallantry of the Officers and men. The men amply repaid the care and kindness of their Company Officers, who have always tried to lead and not to drive. As laid down in my first lecture to the Battalion when formed, in the words of Prince Kraft:

“Men follow their Officers not from fear, but from love of the Regiment where everything had always and at all times gone well with them”. 

Joe Devereux in his book A Singular Day on the Somme gives the Casualty Breakdown for the 18^th Battalion as Killed in Action 7 Officers and 165 men and of those who died in consequence of the wounds 3 Officers and 19 men a total of 194 out of a total loss for the four Liverpool Pals Battalions of 257. 

His death was reported in the Liverpool Echo on the 24th July 1916: 

KILLED IN ACTION. 

MILLER – July 1, killed in action, aged 23 years, Private Frank Edward Miller, King’s(Liverpool Regiment), the dearly-loved seventh son of Mr and Mrs Miller of 304 Anfield Road, Liverpool. 

Also in the Liverpool Daily Post on the 07th August 1916: 

Killed. 

Miller, 16320, F.E. (Liverpool); 

His death was again reported in the press on 07th August 1916

Private Frank E. Miller has been killed. He joined in August 1914 with the contingent from Messrs. Lever Brothers Limited of Port Sunlight, he was 23 years of age. He was the seventh son of Mr and Mrs Miller of Anfield Road, Liverpool, and four his brothers are still serving in the army.   

Frank now rests at Dantzig Alley British cemetery, where his headstone bears the epitaph: 

"LOVINGLY REMEMBERED BY ALL AT HOME"

The village of Mametz was carried by the 7th Division on 1 July 1916, the first day of the Battle of the Somme, after very hard fighting at Dantzig Alley (a German trench) and other points. The cemetery was begun later in the same month and was used by field ambulances and fighting units until the following November. The ground was lost during the great German advance in March 1918 but regained in August, and a few graves were added to the cemetery in August and September 1918. At the Armistice, the cemetery consisted of 183 graves, now in Plot I, but it was then very greatly increased by graves (almost all of 1916) brought in from the battlefields north and east of Mametz and from certain smaller burial grounds. 

Dantzig Alley British Cemetery now contains 2,053 burials and commemorations of the First World War. 518 of the burials are unidentified but there are special memorials to 17 casualties known or believed to be buried among them. Other special memorials record the names of 71 casualties buried in other cemeteries, whose graves were destroyed by shell fire.

The cemetery was designed by Sir Herbert Baker.

Frank’s loss was not the only tragedy to befall the family as his brother Allan, served with the West Lancashire Field Artillery as Gunner 2126, and with the RAMC as Private 337627 and on 01^st August 1917 died of wounds at 17 Casualty Clearing Station, aged 19 years 10 months. Those wounds likely inflicted on the opening day of the Battle of Passchendaele.

Allan now rests at Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, Belgium. 

His epitaph is the same as his brother Frank:

"LOVINGLY REMEMBERED BY ALL AT HOME"  

His death was reported in the Liverpool Daily Post on the 10th August 1917: 

Private Allan Miller, R.A.M.C., youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. John Miller, 304, Anfield-road, has died of wounds. He was one of five brothers who joined the Army, and is the second to be killed. His three surviving brothers are serving on the Western front. Before joining up he was with Messrs. R. R. Minton and Co. 

Frank was remembered by his family in the Liverpool Echo on his birthday the 28th February 1918: 

ROLL OF HONOUR. 

MILLER – In loving birthday remembrance of Private FRANK E. MILLER, seventh son of Mr and Mrs Miller of 304 Anfield Road, killed in action July 1, 1916 

The Pensions of both Frank and Allan were received by father John. (His brother John, Sgt 355075 10/KLR was in receipt of a Pension until his death on 06th October 1919). 

A third loss to the family was announced in the Liverpool Daily Post on the 07th October 1919: 

MILLER – October 6 at Fazakerley Sanatorium from effects of gas poisoning, John Miller (late Sergeant of the Liverpool Scottish), beloved son of John and the late Elizabeth Miller, 304 Anfield Road interment at Anfield Cemetery on Friday next at 1pm. (Friends please accept this -the only- intimation.) 

He is buried at Anfield Cemetery in an unmarked grave (CE.9.127). 

Frank is also commemorated on the following Memorials

St Simon & St Jude, Anfield Road, Liverpool,

St Saviour’s Church, Everton and which is now preserved in Liverpool Anglican Cathedral

Lever Brothers 

His effects were sent to his father in October 1916, by which time the family lived at 304 Anfield Road. 

We currently have no further information on Frank Edward Miller, if you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.