MILLER Joseph Sydney Major

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Surname: MILLER;

Forename(s): Joseph Sydney;

Initials: JS;

Rank: Major;

Previous Regiment: R Fus;

MGC Branch: Infantry;

MGC Unit: 91 Coy;

Other MGC Unit Served (1): 108 Coy;

Date abroad: 11-Mar-1916;

Awarded: DSO, MID, MID, MID;

Other Data: Served SA
OC of 91 Coy from establishment Feb 1916
Debretts 1928: DSO (1917), MID. Lt Col, R Fusiliers
address 1946: Palace Hotel, Lancaster Gate, W
Assumed command of 108 Coy 26/3/1917 (war diary)
DMGO 36 Div 20/6/1917
OC Depot, Belton Pk 8/12/1917
Joseph Sydney Miller, Military career (PHOTO - GS Archive)
Coldstream Guards

Joined the Coldstream Guards at London on ~ 2 March 1897
He had his Medical Examination at Bury on 27 February 1897. The Surgeon at Arms declared him fit and noted:
Age: approximately 19 years
Height: 5ft 9 inches
Weight: 151 lbs (10st 11 lbs)
Chest minimum: 35 inches, expanded 37 inches
Complexion: fresh
Eyes: brown
Hair: black curly
Distinguishing marks: face freckled
Religious Denomination: CofE

He was given the Regimental Number 816 and his Statement of Services records:
Service reckoned from 27.2.97
Attested Pte 27.2.97
Extended services to complete 7 years with the colours 11.11.97
Appointed Lance Corp 8 Nov 97
Elected 1 April 1898 to come under the rules regarded messing allowance contained in Royal Warrant dates 1 March 1898
Granted G. C. Pay 27 Feb 99
Promoted Corporal 2 March 99
2nd Bn
Appointed Lce Sgt 7.8.99
Promoted Sergeant 1 May 1900
Extended Service to 12 Years with the Colours (Bounty of £2) 21 May 1900

W.A.F.Force
Posted Sergeant 1.3.1903
Re-engaged for the Coldstream Guards at Wilberforce, West Africa on 10 December 1908 for such term as will complete 21 years service
Promoted Colour Sergeant 13.12.1909

2nd Bn CG
Posted Colour Sergeant 2.4.1914
Discharged Colour Sergeant 6.6.1914
“With less than 21 years’ service towards engagement, but with 21 or more years’ service towards pension”.

The next form, presumably completed on discharge notes:
Qualified for promotion to Corporal
Campaigns. South Africa 1899-1902
Character. - Exemplary
Pension. - 2s/10d per day for life
Address. - 127 Pinstone Street, Sheffield
Height 5’ 10” [so he grew an inch during service]
Medal for Long Service and Good Conduct with Gratuity A.O. 254 of 1910
South African War Medal 1899-1902 with clasps for:
Belmont, Modder River, Driefontein, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Belfast
Kings S A Medal with clasps for South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902

Finally, the Military History Sheet gives details of his service, including embarkation and disembarkation dates.

He served 2 years and 236 days at home before he embarked for South Africa on 21 October 1899. He returned home on 7 October 1902 having served almost 3 years in South Africa. He embarked for West Africa on 1 March 1903. He returned home roughly once a year before finally coming home on 7 February 1914. In all he served for 17 years and 100 days, of which 8 years 54 days was service in West Africa which counted double.

There is nothing on his Coldstream Guards file to indicate that he was recalled in August 1914, but his Medal Card at the National Archives indicates that he was awarded the 1914-1915 Star and was entitled to the emblems so he would almost certainly have been with the Coldstreams (presumably still 2nd Battalion) on the retreat from Mons.

York & Lancaster Regiment

We know about this from the photographs of him in the uniform and the Army List, plus a brief entry in the history of the Sheffield City Battalion. There is no mention of this on his Army papers.

He was appointed RSM of the 12th (Service) Battalion of the York and Lancaster Regiment with effect from 21 September 1914. He seems to have been involved with the basic training of that Battalion before he was commissioned.

Northumberland Fusiliers

The Army List and London Gazette indicate he was commissioned into the Northumberland Fusiliers in January 1915 and was appointed as Captain and Adjutant to the 20th (Service) Battalion, the Tyneside Scottish. This is where his Service file opens, simply noting as an opening: “Service in the ranks – 19 years”.

The Battalion was based at Alnwick (also the Machine Gun training centre). He is recorded as suffering a fracture to his right tibia by the kick of a horse. He was unfit for duty for some months. He then transferred to the Machine Gun Corps when he returned to duty.

Machine Gun Corps

He joined the Corps on 22 November 1915 and was passed fit for general service on 3 December. He proceeded to France on 9 March 1916 as Captain, 91 Machine Gun Company 7 Division). The War Diaries for 91st Machine Gun Company for March, April & May 1916 are completed by him. He was promoted Major 24 April 1916.

He went on leave to the UK in mid June and rejoined his Company on 22 June 1916.

He was wounded in action on 14 July 1916 (gunshot wound, right leg), he was treated by 21 Field Ambulance and at 8 General Hospital.

His casualty card indicates that he was awarded the Military Cross, London Gazette 1/1/17 and Mentioned in Despatches, Gazette 4/1/17. The first entry seems to be in error (I think this is the DSO because he had already been promoted Major and was not, therefore eligible for an MC).

He briefly transferred to the Tank Corps (29/11/1916 – 22/1/1917) it seems that his wounded leg gave him problems in a tank.

He was returned to France on 19 March 1917 and appointed OC 108 Machine Gun Company 26 March 1917. In April 1917 he spent a short time in hospital with a sprained right ankle

He was appointed Divisional Machine Gun Officer 36 (Ulster) Division 0n 20 June 1917.

He was ordered to Grantham as OC Depot Company and proceeded to England 12 December 1917. 8 February 1918 ceased to be employed as DGMO and 15 February was nominated for appointment as 2 I/C 40 Bn. Royal Fusiliers, but “could not be spared from Machine Gun Corps”.

Royal Fusiliers

“Adjutant General requests that he shall be posted to 42 Battalion Royal Fusiliers 19/6/1918”. He joined for duty 11 July 1918 to Command Depot Royal Fusiliers and to be T/Lieut Col.from 18/7/1918. (London Gazette 8/1/1919). He was in Command of the Fusiliers’ Depot at Plymouth.

Decorations

In addition to his South Africa medals, Long Service & Good Conduct Medal and Mons Star, British War and Victory Medals he was awarded the DSO 1/7/1917 (Gazetted 1/1/1917) and was Mentioned in Despatches 3 times : Gazette 3/1/1917; 24/12/1917 & 25/5/1918. He later qualified for the Defence Medal for the 1939-1945 War for service in the Home Guard (Heath’s Machine Gun Detachment);

Other Notes: DSO: 1/1/1917
MID: LG 4/1/1917 (dated 13/11/1916)
MID: LG 21/12/1917 (24/12/1917) (Haig: 26/2/1917-2/9/1917, France)
MID: LG 25/5/1918 T/Major, DSO;

Is photo available? Yes, see VMGCRA Patreon

END OF RECORD.

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