(17) Alfred Owen Miles

Died of Pneumonia

Private Alfred Owen Miles (17) was born in the 2nd Qtr. 1894 to Jonathan and Phoebe Miles on Canvey Island. The family lived in Benfleet at 1 Hexham Villas, Fleet Road in 1911. Alfred was a van man for a grocery store.

By 1915 he was living in London at 3 Golders Green Road, which might account for why he joined the Middlesex Regiment. His parents were living at “Meadowside”, Town Meadow in 1918.

He attested on 11th December 1915 at the Recruiting Office at 8 Cricklewood Broadway. His profession  was as a Provision Dealer. He was 5 foot 7 inches tall (1.7 meters) and weighed 142.5 pounds (64.6 kilograms). The records note that he had flat feet.

He was mobilised on 20th January 1916 and was initially posted to the 5th Battalion (Reseves) of the Middlesex Regiment in Aldershot and then posted to the 19th Battalion on 18th March 1916. This was a Pioneer battalion called the 2nd Public Works and formed part of the 41st Division. He was initially in Britain and then was posted to France on the 1st May 2016 landing at Le Harve on the 2nd May. He was temporarily assigned to the 237 Company of the Royal Engineers on 3rd June 1916 and rejoined his Battalion on 17th August 1916.

His Battalion, when he was part of it, took part in The Battle of Flers-Courcelette from the 5th to the 22nd September 1916. also in the Battle of Le Transloy from the 1st to the 18th October 1916.

He died of pneumonia and syncope on 6th February 1917 aged 23 near Reningheist, Belgium.

 

 

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  • This has been updated on 10/10/2018 with more details taken from the official records.

    By Phil Coley (10/10/2018)

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