Pte 27749 Harry Miller

• Age: 22
• From: Chorley, Lancs
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
• D.O.W Friday 13th April 1917
• Commemorated at: Warlincourt Halte Brit Cem
  Panel Ref: VIII.D.9

Harry was born in Chorley on the 04th April 1895, the youngest son of John Miller and his wife Mary Ellen (née Morris). His parents were both born in Chorley and married at St George's Church, Chorley in 1877. 

Birth records have been found for nine children.  Harry had older siblings Mary Elizabeth 1878 (who died in infancy), Sarah Ann 1879, John William 1881 (died in infancy), Robert 1883, William 1885, Mary 1888, John 1890, and Ellen (Nellie), born in 1892. 

The family lived in Derby Street, Chorley from 1878 to 1889, then moved to Brooke Street.  

Harry was baptised on 02nd June 1895 in St. James' Church, Chorley, his parents’ residence listed as 133 Brooke Street, and his father’s occupation as spinner. 

By 1901 they have moved to 28 Cowling Brow, Chorley.  His father 47 is a cotton spinner, his mother is 45. Harry is aged 5. His siblings all born in Chorley are recorded as; Sarah Ann 27 cotton weaver, William 18 labourer for railway engine works, Robert 16 cotton creeler, Mary 13, John 10 and Nellie 7. 

His father died in the December quarter of 1901, aged 47. 

In 1911 his widowed mother, 55, is head of household at 28 Cowling Brow. She advised that she had been married for 34 years and had ten children of whom nine had survived. All four children are employed in the cotton industry.  Polly (possibly Mary), 24, and Nellie, 18, are card room hands, John, 20, is a mule piecer, and Harry is 15, a creeler (in spinning, a creeler replaces the roving (loosely assembled fibers) being fed to the spindles).  Also living with them is his uncle Robert Morris, 37, a cotton mule piecer.  

Prior to the war he worked for the Cowling Spinning Company.Chorley was an important cotton town with many mills. The Cowling Mill Spinning Co Ltd. opened in 1906.

He worshipped at St James' Church in Chorley.

He enlisted in Chorley on 27th April 1915 as Private 27749, he served with the 13th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment, and shipped to France with his battalion on 26th September 1915, disembarking at Le Havre. In 1916 they took part in the actions of the Bluff and St Eloi Craters then moved to the Somme and were in action at the Battle of Albert, at Bazentin helping to capture Longueval, at Delville Wood and the Ancre.  

At some point Harry was posted to the 4th Bn. K.L.R., and subsequently to the 19th Bn. He was serving with the 19th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 27749 when he died of wounds on 13th April 1917 aged 22.

He now rests at Warlincourt Halte British Cemetery in France.

The site of the cemetery was chosen in May 1916. It was used from June 1916 to May 1917 by the 20th and 43rd Casualty Clearing Stations, in February 1917 by the 1/1st South Midland, and from April to June 1917 by the 32nd. The whole of plots VII, VIII, IX and X were filled in April and May 1917, the months of the Battles of Arras. From June 1917, the cemetery was practically unused until the fighting of May and June 1918, when field ambulances buried in it. After the Armistice the cemetery was increased by graves brought in from other smaller cemeteries.

The cemetery now contains 1,266 Commonwealth burials of the First World War. There are also 29 German and two French war graves.

The cemetery was designed by Charles Holden.

Following his death a series of obituary notices were placed:

"He was only a brave young hero, looking to do his share
 only a grave in France, nameless who knows where?
 Do not ask if we miss him, there is such a vacant space 
 He fought and died for Britain and the honour of his race
 Not dead to those who loved him
 Not lost but gone before 
 He lives with us in memory still
 And will for evermore"

Mother and Family

There is a link that death cannot sever
Love and Remembrance will last forever

Hetty

Sleep on dear brother, in a soldiers grave,
Your life for your country you nobly gave
No one stood near you to say goodbye
But safe in God's keeping you now lie.

From sister Nellie and Joe (in France)

Harry earned his three medals.  

His Army effects and a War Gratuity of £9 went to his mother, living at 28 Cowling Brow, who was awarded a pension (varying amount shown). 

His mother, 83, is still living at 28 Cowling Brow in 1939, with daughter Mary and her husband.  She died in the summer of 1943, aged 87.

Harry is commemorated in St. James’ Church, Chorley

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