Rushden Soldier's Death - Private Thomas Wm Miller Succumbs to Wounds - A Brother Wounded by Shrapnel

We regret to report that Mrs B A Miller, 6 Orchard-place, Rushden, has received news that her younger son, 203053, Pte Thos. W Miller, of the Northants Regt, has passed away at No. 2 Canadian Casualty Clearing Station, France, from a gunshot wound in the back, which penetrated the abdomen.

The first news that Mrs Miller received was a wire from the Record Office to say that her son was dangerously ill, and that permission to visit him could not be granted. Subsequently, the Rev. G M Ambrose, C.F., wrote to Mrs Miller as follows:

"Your son, Pte T W Miller, was brought to us today with a wound in the back penetrating the abdomen. I regret to say that his chances are very slight. He is receiving every care possible, and asked me to write to you."

Later, the chaplain wrote under date July 23rd: "I regret to have to tell you that your son passed away at 3 a.m. today. I was called up to see him at 2.20 a.m., and had prayers will him. From that time until the end he was only partly conscious. He sent no particular messages. He is buried at the Military Cemetery at Lyssenhock, near Poperinghe, Belgium.
With deep sympathy, yours faithfully, G M Ambrose."

Sergt Toe, who was in command of the late Pte Miller's platoon, sends the information that Pte Miller received his injury through a shell which came over and wounded four men.

The late Pte Miller, who was 29 years of age, had been in France about nine weeks when he met his end. He enlisted on January 17th, this year, up to which time he was employed by Messrs. Skeeles and Sons, boot manufacturers, Rushden. As a youth he was an enthusiastic footballer, and was well known in Higham Ferrers, where his family formerly resided.

Mrs Miller's grievous trouble is not, we are sorry to say, confined to this son, as another son, Pte Walter Miller, of the Northants Regt., has received about nine shrapnel wounds, one piece of shrapnel having shattered his ankle. His is now in Salford Royal Hospital, Manchester, and we are pleased to report that he is apparently making good progress.

Writing to his mother under date July 28th, he says:-

"I am still getting on all right, and hope you are the same. I have started to get up now, so you see I am getting on. I get about on the wheel chair, and it is nice after being in bed six weeks. It has been six weeks to-day since I got hit and I shall never forget that day as long as I live. I was lucky to get off as lightly as I did, as the shells were dropping all round me, and I thought my number was up, but I am still alive and kicking. The war does not look like ending."

Pte Walter Miller, who enlisted on June 21st, 1916, had been on the Western front about seven weeks when he received his wounds. Before that date he had had one or two narrow escapes. On one occasion a shell came and burst in the parapet. Pte Miller, who was standing on the fire-step at the time was blown across the trench, and his ears were filled with dirt. A man at the side of him was hurt in the shoulder, and another man three yards away was killed and two others wounded. Before joining up, Pte Walter Miller was employed by Mr Owen Parker, Higham Ferrers.

Rushden Soldier's Death - Private Thomas W Miller - Official News

In our issue of August 3rd, we published the unofficial news that 20353, Pte Thos. Wm. Miller, of the Northants Regt., son of Mrs B A Miller, 6 Orchard-place, Rushden, had succumbed to wounds. Mrs Miller has now received confirmation of the sad news from the War Office, the official document being accompanied by the usual letter of sympathy from the King and Queen.

The late Pte Miller was well known and highly respected both in Rushden and Higham Ferrers, and much sympathy is felt with his mother in the grievous blow she has sustained by his death.

In Memoriam

MILLER - In loving memory of Pte Thomas William Miller, 6th Northants Regt., the dearly beloved son of Mrs B A Miller, of 6 Orchard place, Rushden, who died of wounds received in France, on July 23rd, 1917. Aged 29 years.

Greatly missed, silently mourned. From his ever loving mother, brothers, sister and niece.