L/Cpl 16082 Ritson Miller

• Age: 24
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Sunday 30th July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

Ritson Miller was born on the 08th March 1892 at Liverpool and was baptised on the 26th March 1892 at St Andrew's Church of England, Toxteth. He was the son of Thomas Miller and his wife Elizabeth (née Smith). At the time of his baptism his parents lived in Wood Street, and his father was employed as a dry salter. His parents married in 1875, and Ritson was the youngest of their six children. He had brothers Joseph, Thomas Arthur, and John, and sisters Eliza Jane and Ethel.

The 1901 Census shows the family living at 17 Ampthill Road, Toxteth Park, Liverpool.

His father, Thomas, is aged 48, born in Liverpool in 1853 occupation is a foreman in a spice mill, his mother, Elizabeth is aged 45, born in Liverpool in 1856 with no occupation listed. They have been married for sixteen years and have five children, J.S. (Joseph), 24, born 1877 is a commercial traveller, Eliza aged 20, born 1881 no occupation listed, Ethel aged 18, born 1883 is a draper’s assistant, John aged 14, born 1887 and Ritson aged 9, born 1892. His brother Thomas has apparently joined the Merchant Marine and is found on later crew lists.

Ritson was admitted to Liverpool Collegiate School in 1904 when he was 12 years old (but his name does not appear on the school memorial).

His brother Joseph died in 1907 at the age of 30.

The 1911 Census shows the family  still living at 17 Ampthill Road, Toxteth Park, Liverpool. 

His father, 58, is a miller, his mother is aged 55. Eliza, 30, is at home, Ethel, 28, is a shop assistant, John, 24, is a shipping clerk, and  Ritson is aged 19 and working as a cotton clerk.

He enlisted on the 01st September 1914 at St George's Hall in Liverpool joining the 17^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private 16082. He gave his age as twenty two years and 151 days and his occupation as shipping canvasser. He was described as being five feet nine inches tall, weighed 139lbs, with a fresh complexion, hazel eyes and brown hair. He stated his religion as Church of England and gives as next of kin; his father Thomas at 17 Ampthill Road, later changed to 11 Normanton Avenue.

He was billeted at Prescot Watch Factory from 14^th September 1914, he trained there and also at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 17th 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. 

On 07th November 1915 he embarked for France with his battalion.

On 14.12.15: Appointed unpaid Lance Corporal. 

Ritson was killed in action on the 30^th July 1916, aged 24, at the village of Guillemont, France, during the Somme Offensive. 

17th Battalion Diary 

The Battalion was in support to 19 & 20 Battalions K.L.R. 2 Coys. behind 19th & 2 Coys. behind 20th. Very thick mist. The attack was pushed home to the objective in places but in the main was held up by machine gun fire from hidden machine guns.

Fighting continued all day swaying backwards and forwards until by 6pm about 300 yards in depth had been gained & consolidated all along our front.

Casualties in the 17th Battalion were 15 Officers and 281 Other Ranks

Further details are reported in more detailed by Everard Wyrall in his book The History of the King’s Regiment (Liverpool) 1914-1919 Volume II 1916-1917

The 17th King’s had advanced (two companies each behind the 19th and 20th Battalions) in small columns. They too suffered heavily from machine-gun fire and were quickly absorbed into the waves that preceded them. They also shared the gains and losses of that terrible day.

When darkness fell on the battlefield the 30th Division held a line from the railway on the eastern side of Trones Wood , southwards and including Arrow Head Copse, to east of Maltz Horn Farm. On this line the division was relieved by the 55th Division during the early hours of the 31st July. 

The events of 30th July 1916 were regarded at the time as Liverpool’s blackest day. There follows an extract from The History of the 89th Brigade written by Brigadier General Ferdinand Stanley which gives an indication of the events of the day.

Guillemont

Well the hour to advance came, and of all bad luck in the world it was a thick fog; so thick that you couldn’t see more than about ten yards. It was next to impossible to delay the attack – it was much too big an operation- so forward they had to go. It will give some idea when I say that on one flank we had to go 1,750 yards over big rolling country. Everyone knows what it is like to cross enclosed country which you know really well in a fog and how easy it is to lose your way. Therefore, imagine these rolling hills, with no landmarks and absolutely unknown to anyone. Is it surprising that people lost their way and lost touch with those next to them? As a matter of fact, it was wonderful the way in which many men found their way right to the place we wanted to get to. But as a connected attack it was impossible.

The fog was intense it was practically impossible to keep direction and parties got split up. Owing to the heavy shelling all the Bosches had left their main trenches and were lying out in the open with snipers and machine guns in shell holes, so of course our fellows were the most easy prey.

It is so awfully sad now going about and finding so many splendid fellows gone.

His body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme.

The Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. Over 90% of those commemorated died between July and November 1916. 

On 01st August 1932 the Prince of Wales and the President of France inaugurated the Thiepval Memorial in Picardy. The inscription reads: “Here are recorded the names of officers and men of the British Armies who fell on the Somme battlefields between July 1915 and March 1918 but to whom the fortune of war denied the known and honoured burial given to their comrades in death.” 

His death was reported in the local press:

Deeside Casualties

Killed, Wounded, and Missing

The list of casualties amongst Deeside soldiers - casualties sustained mainly in the recent big "Push" - is still being added to.

Lance-Corporal Miller of the "Pals", youngest son of Mr and Mrs Thomas Miller, 11 Warren Road, Hoylake, late of Aigburth, Liverpool, was killed in action on July 30th, when so many from the Wirral district fell.

Liverpool Echo 10th Aug 1916 

Lance-Corporal Miller of the "Pals", youngest son of Mr and Mrs Thomas Miller, 11 Warren Road, Hoylake, late of Aigburth, Liverpool, was killed in action on July 30th, when so many from the Wirral district fell. 

Ritson earned his three medals. His British War Medal and Victory Medal, showing his rank as Private, were returned for adjustment.

His Army pay and a War Gratuity of £8-10 went to his father. No pension card has been found.

His mother died aged 62 in 1918, living at 20 Marmion Road.

In 1919 his sister L. (Eliza?) provided information on his living relatives:  She was living with her father at 11 Normanton Avenue, Aigburth. Married sister Ethel Nixon was at 16 Ivanhoe Road, Toxteth Park, and John’s address of 3 Curzon Road, Hoylake is crossed out and replaced with Dock Board Building, Liverpool. No mention is made of Thomas.

Infantry Records requested the assistance of Liverpool Police in locating his father regarding disposal of medals, as attempts to communicate with him had failed.  Correspondence sent to 11 Normanton Avenue, as well as to Mrs. K. Maher, 67 York Street, Garston, and Mrs. F. Mitchell, 38 Chapel Place (relationships unknown), had been returned “Gone away” or “Not known”.

His father died in May 1920 aged 68.

That same month they contacted Ethel at 16 Ivanhoe Road, and in June 1920 contacted his brother John at Curzon Road, Hoylake, regarding the Memorial Plaque and Scroll. John signed for his brother’s medals. His personal effects which included one broken wrist watch, packet of letters, photo's and card were given to his brother John. 

Ritson is commemorated in Liverpool’s Hall of Remembrance, Panel 18

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