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Research by Den Budden 2007

Gunner GERALD MILES, R.A. 1622718, Gunner, H.Q. battalion, 127th Light Anti Aircraft, Regiment, Royal Artillery, 51st Division, XXX Corps. Age unknown Died 12.6.1944

Gunner GERALD MILES, Royal Artillery. Gunner Miles, was one of the Royal Artillery detachment, who were charged with the defence of the man-made artificial harbour or ‘Mulberry Harbour’. This harbour was an essential and crucial part, of the allied invasion of Normandy. Without which, the liberation of Europe could not have taken place. It was through the two harbours, one at St. Laurent, for the American beaches, and the other at Arromanches for the British and Commonwealth forces. Evidence indicates that Gunner Miles was atop one of the ‘Phoenix’ units, huge concrete caissons, which were floated across the English Channel, and when in position off the Normandy beachheads, were allowed to flood with seawater, thus allowing them to settle on the seabed. Many of these caissons provided the inner breakwaters for the artificial harbours. Once settled, they stood some thirty feet out of the water. Mounted on top of the huge concrete structures, were anti aircraft guns. Gunner Miles was manning his gun on Sunday 11th June 1944, when a heavy, and prolonged air raid started. Dive bombers, and fighters, attacked the half-finished harbour. Gunner Miles targeted one of the dive-bombers, firing his heavy calibre machine gun, at the descending aircraft. The fighter was badly damaged, but pressed home its strafing attack. Gunner Miles was badly wounded during the attack, and was immediately transferred to a hospital ship for emergency surgery. Sadly it was to little avail, he passed away the next day (12th), on the voyage home.

Gunner GERALD MILES, R.A., was buried on Saturday 17th June 1944, in the War Graves Section (see plans on back pages), Row 2 Grave 17, and is commemorated by a CWG headstone.

Sapper CHARLES MILLER, R.A. 973, 4th Advanced Park Company, Royal Engineers. Age 42 Died 17.10.1915

Sapper CHARLES MILLER, Royal Engineers, was one of the few ‘Park Company’s’. It appears that they would be dropped off at a site, and would fell trees scrubs etc, clear and level the ground, all ready for buildings or parking places for vehicles. Sapper Miller, appears to have been encamped in the Alverstoke area, and was helping to erect the buildings at what became known as ‘Monkton Hutment’s’ (where Stokes Bay Golf Club now stands). He was taken ill and transferred to the Queen Alexandria Military Hospital, at Cosham. His condition worsened, he was diagnosed with enteric fever (fever of the stomach), and he died on The 17th of October 1915.

Sapper CHARLES MILLER, R.A., was buried on the 20th of October 1916. He is laid to rest, Plot 109 Space 64, and is commemorated by a CWG headstone.

Mrs KATE MILLER 22 Hartington Road, Gosport. Age 65         Died 27.4.1941    SEE – Mrs ELIZABETH ANN BLACKBURN

Lieutenant GEORGE CARLTON MILLS, R.F.C. Age 26        Died 4.11.1917

Lieutenant GEORGE CARLTON MILLS, Royal Flying Corps, was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, and was the son of George Charles and Elizabeth Maude Mills. Joining the Canadian Overseas Force at the onset of the First World War. He saw action at the Front, after having made numerous flights as an observer. His potential was spotted, and he was sent for a course of flying instruction, Arriving at Gosport to report to the School of Special Flying, where he underwent the now thorough training the course provided.

2nd Lt. George Carlton Mills, R.F.C., 26 years of age, was killed on afternoon of Sunday 4th November 1917, by the fall of the aeroplane in which he was flying alone. The aeroplane an Avro 504J ‘B’, service no 4251, was a two-seater machine. When at a height of 600 feet, it came into collision with another machine, piloted by Captain Oswald Horsley of the Gordon Highlanders Regiment (attached to the R.F.C.), who was in sole charge. Lt. Mills Avro crashed on the outskirts of the aerodrome. Assistance was promptly sent to the scene, but upon reaching the young officer, he was found to have died. A surgeon who was summoned, and was in attendance within a very short time, stated that Mills had ‘a severe fracture of the skull besides other injuries, which were sufficient to cause his death.’ Captain Horsley testified at the inquiry he saw Lt. Mills machine about 700 yards distant, it was then turning away, soon afterwards he felt his machine struck and was forced downward, his machine turning over. Although it was badly damaged, he recovered control and managed to make a safe descent, and was not hurt. A verdict of accidental death was returned. The Inquiry absolved Captain Horlsey of any responsibility for the collision.

Lieutenant GEORGE CARLTON MILLS, Royal Flying Corps, was buried on Thursday 8th November 1917, and is laid to rest, Plot 28 Grave 65, and is commemorated by a CWG headstone.

Chief Stoker HARRY ALBERT MITCHELL, R.N. PO/282311, Chief Stoker, Royal Navy, HMS Victory. Age 41 Died 24.10.1916

Chief Stoker HARRY ALBERT MITCHELL, Royal Navy, was based at HMS Victory, (barracks in Portsmouth Dockyard). He maintained and kept the coal-fired boilers, which kept the buildings warm. At the time of his death he had been sent up to London. He was badly wounded during one of the Zeppelin airship air raids on the capital. One of the bombs dropped by the airship demolished the building he was in.

Admitted to Wolseley Hospital, Denmark Hill, London, he underwent emergency surgery but two days later on the 24th of October 1916 he died. His body was returned to the Royal Naval Hospital, Haslar. Chief Stoker HARRY ALBERT MITCHELL, Royal Navy, was buried on the 31st of October 1916. He is laid to rest, Plot 50 Space 76, and is commemorated by a CWG headstone.

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