Private Charles Miller
1st Infantry Battalion
Service Number: 4455
Born: 1889, Orange, NSW
Died: 18 August 1916, Pozieres, France
Charles Miller, known as Paddy, was born in 1889, the only son born to John and Laura Miller. His parents had lived at Orange until the death of his mother in 1894. His father then relocated to Penrith with his two small children (Charles and Lucy) to live with his mother, Eliza Miller in Derby Street.
Miller attended Penrith Superior Public School and afterwards worked for several years for Penrith cordial manufacturers, Bronger Bros. His father had also worked there. Miller went into partnership with Charles Werner in a smallgoods business in High Street. Werner enlisted in 1914 and saw action at Gallipoli and France before returning to Australia in 1919.
Miller enlisted on 23 September 1915, a few months after the death of his father. He left Sydney on the RMS Osterley in January 1916, bound for Egypt. After some training he was sent to France, disembarking at Marseilles in March 1916. It is believed he was killed in action at Pozieres and he has no known grave.
Miller’s death, reported in the Nepean Times (23 September 1916) stated that ‘he was fated to die a hero’s death in vindication of the cause of liberty’. His sister Lucy received his war medals as his next of kin. In 1918 Lucy wrote to the Defence Department asking for any personal items belonging to Miller to be sent to her. All they could find was a small souvenir of Egypt.
Memorial Details:
- Villers-Bretonneux, France
- Honor Roll, Memory Park, Penrith
- Honor Roll, Penrith Superior Public School
- Honor Roll, St Stephens Church of England, Penrith
Sources:
- National Archives of Australia: B2455, MILLER C
- Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour
- Penrith City Library Biography files
TROVE:
- Nepean Times: 23 September 1916, p.4, Col. 3