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Report throws new light on hero
Last week the Guardian published a 20-page 'We Love Chorley' supplement which championed some of the people who made significant contributions to the town over the years. It included details of James Miller, who was given the Victoria Cross in 1916 for the bravery he displayed at the Battle of the Somme. Now, Chorley historian Steve Williams has said the circumstances of his death may be different to what was previously thought after he unearthed new information.
Private James Miller's status as a hero will never be in doubt. The gallant soldier from Withnell won a posthumous Victoria Cross – Britain's highest gallantry award – for his actions on the Somme in July 1916.
However, Steve Williams, secretary of the Chorley Pals Memorial and author of a book entitled 'Brindle and Hoghton Pals', has found an article in a 1916 edition of the Preston Guardian, which gives a different version of events after the soldier's act of heroism.
The story started on August 31, 1914, when James enlisted at Blackburn into the 7th (Service) Battalion of the Kings Own Royal Lancaster Regiment.
He went overseas in July 1915 and saw action at Lens and Loos in northern France during the autumn, before moving to the Somme in April 1916.
The Battalion was in action at La Boiselle between July 3 and 7 and spent the end of July consolidating positions near Mametz Wood and Bazentin-le-Petit.
Following the capture of enemy positions near Bazentin-le-Petit on July 30, Private Miller was ordered to take a message during a break in communications.
His citation in The London Gazette of September 9, 1916 recorded the act of gallantry...
"For most conspicuous
bravery
His battalion was consolidating a position after its capture by assault.
Private Miller was ordered to take an important message under heavy shell and rifle fire, and to bring back a reply at all costs.
He was compelled to cross the open, and on leaving the trench was shot almost immediately in the back, the bullet coming through his abdomen.
In spite of this, with heroic courage and self-sacrifice, he compressed the gaping wound in his abdomen, delivered his message, staggered back with his answer, and fell dead at the feet of the officer to whom he delivered it.
He gave his life with a supreme devotion to duty."
He is buried in Dartmoor Cemetery, near Becordel on the Somme battlefield.
On his headstone is carved a large Victoria Cross, the original of which was presented to his father at Buckingham Palace and is now in the Regimental Museum in Lancaster.
After the award was announced, Ellis Williams the honorary secretary of The King's Own Old Comrades Association, recorded James Miller's gallantry in a contemporary poem entitled 'The Message'.
One line of the poem reads… "I've brought the message right through hell – I'll take the answer back" and went on to say "Then Miller dropped at the Captain's feet, and died", ending with the lines "so, when you hear folk talk of heroes, tell this story far and wide; The story of the message, and how Miller of Withnell died".
Historian Mr Williams said: "The Preston Guardian article dated September 16 reported that James Miller was carried away from the trenches on a stretcher, seemingly still alive.
"In fact, a fellow soldier promised to write to his father in Withnell to say what had happened. That soldier was another Withnell man, George Cowell.
"The key piece of George Cowell's letter to James Miller's father stated 'he was a very plucky brave boy and I heard the Captain say he would recommend him. He was taken past me on a stretcher and promised him I would write you'."
Mr Cowell's letter apparently made no mention of Private Miller's death – the Preston Guardian article stated that a later letter informed the Miller family that James had died of his wounds.
Mr Williams said: "Private Cowell's testimony would appear to contradict the citation and Ellis Williams' poem. Over the years the 'official' version has been accepted without question and gone on public record – even into local folklore.
"However, this new information does not detract from James Miller's bravery in winning his VC but, as a historian, the facts must be accurately recorded."
Mr Williams is organising a week-long coach trip to the WW1 battlefields in France and Belgium over the late May Bank Holiday in 2010. The trip will visit Private Miller's grave, as well as the Chorley Pals trenches at nearby Serre.
For details about the trip and the range of talks Mr Williams offers to local groups, clubs and societies, call 01254 854298 or visit his website www.stevewilliamstalks.co.uk.
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Saturday 04 February 2012
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