Sgt
William Charles Miles
Information about birth
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Year of birth: 1872 |
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Place of birth: Bristol, Gloucestershire, England, United Kingdom |
General information
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Last known residence: Usk Road, Chepstow, Monmouthshire, Wales, United Kingdom |
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Profession: Gardener |
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Religion: Church of England |
Army information
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Country: Wales, United Kingdom |
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Force: British Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Sergeant |
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Service number: 2027 |
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Enlistment place: Chepstow, Monmouthshire, Wales, United Kingdom |
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Units: — Monmouthshire Regiment, 1st Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 08/05/1915 |
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Place of death: Frezenberg, Zonnebeke, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 43 |
Memorial
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Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial Panel: 50 |
Points of interest 4
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Last known residence | ||
| #3 | Enlistment place | ||
| #4 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
William Charles Miles was the son of William and Martha Miles. He was born around 1872 in Bristol, Gloucestershire. Before the war, he worked as a gardener. William enlisted in the British Army and was part of the 1st Battalion Monmouthshire Regiment (84th Brigade, 28th Divison).
William fell on 8 May 1915 during the Second Battle of Ypres. The day before, the 1st Battalion Monmouthshire Regiment took up positions near the Frezenberg, parallel to today's Ieperstraat. The trenches were in poor condition and the battalion carried out as many repairs as possible during the last hours of darkness, while barely sheltered from shellfire. The regiment's strength that day was 588 men.
Around 6.30am on 8 May, a fierce German bombardment started, resulting in many casualties. The German infantry broke through the line and could therefore attack not only frontally, but also from the flank. In addition, heavy machine-gun fire from the right flank caused the breach on that side to widen. The 1st Battalion Monmouthshire Regiment saw men from another regiment surrender to their right. In turn, the men of a third regiment entered the trench section of the Monmouthshire Regiment via a communications trench, preventing the supply of reinforcements for the front line. According to the Cheshire Regiment, the order came to reinforce on the left flank. However, Captain Edwards of the 1st Battalion Monmouthshire Regiment refused to carry out that order and was killed trying to hold the trench.
The Germans were now also able to fire from the rear. The battalion's positions to the right were no longer tenable. Most of the men were captured, killed or wounded. Support for A and B Company of the 1st Battalion Monmouthshire Regiment advanced under heavy shellfire. The few survivors got close to the trenches but had to retreat. Their machine guns did work near the road behind the trenches. The Allied artillery was also not strong enough to match the German bombardment.
In consultation with the regiment on their left, the 1st Battalion Monmouthshire Regiment undertook an attempt to take up a new position to cover the flank and the remaining men were given orders to withdraw to a position in echelon. They moved slowly while firing through two narrow and muddy communications trenches, which were also filled with bodies of fallen men. The casualty count was again running high. After moving through the trenches, the men had to continue their march through open ground, again causing many casualties. The survivors arrived at the supporting lines near Wieltje. From there they opened fire on the Germans, who followed other retreating men, halting their advance. Another heavy bombardment followed at dusk, resulting in a high casualty count again, but was not followed by an infantry attack. The 1st Battalion Monmouthshire Regiment was relieved that same evening.
The regiment, which still had a strength of 588 men on 7 May, had suffered heavy losses, with 455 men killed, wounded, missing or captured. William died at the age of 43. After the war, his body was not recovered or identified. His name is commemorated on the Menin Gate.
William fell on 8 May 1915 during the Second Battle of Ypres. The day before, the 1st Battalion Monmouthshire Regiment took up positions near the Frezenberg, parallel to today's Ieperstraat. The trenches were in poor condition and the battalion carried out as many repairs as possible during the last hours of darkness, while barely sheltered from shellfire. The regiment's strength that day was 588 men.
Around 6.30am on 8 May, a fierce German bombardment started, resulting in many casualties. The German infantry broke through the line and could therefore attack not only frontally, but also from the flank. In addition, heavy machine-gun fire from the right flank caused the breach on that side to widen. The 1st Battalion Monmouthshire Regiment saw men from another regiment surrender to their right. In turn, the men of a third regiment entered the trench section of the Monmouthshire Regiment via a communications trench, preventing the supply of reinforcements for the front line. According to the Cheshire Regiment, the order came to reinforce on the left flank. However, Captain Edwards of the 1st Battalion Monmouthshire Regiment refused to carry out that order and was killed trying to hold the trench.
The Germans were now also able to fire from the rear. The battalion's positions to the right were no longer tenable. Most of the men were captured, killed or wounded. Support for A and B Company of the 1st Battalion Monmouthshire Regiment advanced under heavy shellfire. The few survivors got close to the trenches but had to retreat. Their machine guns did work near the road behind the trenches. The Allied artillery was also not strong enough to match the German bombardment.
In consultation with the regiment on their left, the 1st Battalion Monmouthshire Regiment undertook an attempt to take up a new position to cover the flank and the remaining men were given orders to withdraw to a position in echelon. They moved slowly while firing through two narrow and muddy communications trenches, which were also filled with bodies of fallen men. The casualty count was again running high. After moving through the trenches, the men had to continue their march through open ground, again causing many casualties. The survivors arrived at the supporting lines near Wieltje. From there they opened fire on the Germans, who followed other retreating men, halting their advance. Another heavy bombardment followed at dusk, resulting in a high casualty count again, but was not followed by an infantry attack. The 1st Battalion Monmouthshire Regiment was relieved that same evening.
The regiment, which still had a strength of 588 men on 7 May, had suffered heavy losses, with 455 men killed, wounded, missing or captured. William died at the age of 43. After the war, his body was not recovered or identified. His name is commemorated on the Menin Gate.
Sources 2
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1 Battalion Monmouthshire Regiment (The National Archives, KEW (TNA), WO 95/2277/1). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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1911 England Census (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), RG14). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
More information 3
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/906770 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=38ba17ed-c7dd-494b-a352-c22b577e750c |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/3031597 |