31. 6297 Pte Joseph MILLER
WW1 – 6297 Pte Joseph MILLER
Saluting their Service - Grahame Old
The First World War-Prisoners of War (POWs)
The First World War, also known as the Great War was to be a terrible experience for the newly federated nation of Australia. A war that became a baptism of fire, killing tens of thousands of young men, also creating the foundation for new traditions of patriotism, and a distinct national identity. In France and Belgium, (the Western Front battlefields), from 1916-1918, 3853 Australian troops were taken prisoner by German forces, most of them being held in POW camps in Germany.
Although these Australian prisoners survived in proportionally higher numbers than their comrades in Ottoman camps, their experience was a difficult one, their captors were generally harsh. Conditions were crowded (the Germans held over five million Allied POW’s during the war), and food supplies were often disrupted, particularly during the Allied blockade of 1917-1918. Many were made to work for the Germans in war-related capacities.
Collie Boys
There were 556 servicemen from Collie and Surrounding Districts who embarked for overseas service during WW1, seventeen (17) of these were taken Prisoner of War (POW). One of these boys was a farmhand from Collie, this is his story.
6297 Private Joseph MILLER 16th Infantry Battalion
Joseph MILLER was working as a Farm Hand at Huntley Farm in Collie WA, when he enlisted for WW1 service in April 1916. He listed his birthplace as Killhanue, County Wexford, Ireland and place of residence as Huntley Farm Collie. His listed next of kin was his wife Lurline Merould MILLER also residing at Huntley Farm. He left his wife, Lurline and two young children behind when he nobly set off to fight for King and Country.
Pte. MILLER, (affectionally known as Paddy by his Aussie mates) was included in the 20th Reinforcements of the 16th Battalion and undertook basic training at Blackboy Hill Camp, until he embarked from Fremantle, on 10 October, 1916, aboard the troop ship “Suffolk”, bound for Plymouth, England. He disembarked in England on 2 December, 1916, and after further training he embarked for the Western Front on 16 January, 1917. He was taken on strength of the 16th Battalion in the field, France on 17 February, 1917.
On 11 April, 1917, Pte, MILLER was reported as Missing in Action at Bullecourt, France. Subsequently reported as Wounded in Action at Reincourt, France and taken as a Prisoner of War for internment at Limburg POW Camp, Valenciennes, France. Joseph Miller had been in country less than 2 months. Tragically, Pte. Joseph MILLER was killed at the POW Camp on 7 July, 1917. Official German report, dated 09/10/17, shows shot and killed whilst attempting to escape.
Cemetery or Memorial details: Archives service records show he was buried by the Germans at the Military Cemetery (British extension) St Laube Vallenciennes, France. The AWM Honour Roll shows, Vallenciennes, St Roch Communal Cemetery, France.
Pte Miller is remembered on the AWM Roll of Honour Canberra – Panel 80, and on the Collie War Memorial, WA.
Postcard From Prisoner of War to his Mother: On 11 May 1917, Pte. Joseph MILLER sent a Censored Postcard to his Mother, addressed to Mrs. MILLER, Annagh, Inch, County Wexford, Ireland, completed as follows :-
Camp – Limburg
Remarks – Prisoner, send me some parcels through Red Cross – food, tobacco, soap.
The death of Pte Miller was both tragic and controversial. The German Death Certificate for Pte Joseph Miller shows cause of death on 7 July 1917, as “shot while attempting to escape”, however there are a number of eye-witness Australian POW soldiers who provided statements to clearly define that Pte MILLER was not attempting to escape when shot by the German sentry. The German enquiry into the death, found in favour of the sentry. Summaries from Red Cross files below highlight the incident.
Summaries from Red Cross Prisoner of War (POW) File Extracts
20/03/1918 London
Extract from Letter from German Red Cross dated 8/01/1918- “Prisoner of War- In reply to yours of 25/10/1917- According to the Official List now before us. The British Soldier 6297. Pte. Joseph Miller 16th AIF “C” Company, died at St. Saulve Camp and is buried in Valenciennes Cemetery Grave No. 259. At present we have no further details, but we will commence investigations and will forward you any results of same”.
3/06/1918- London
Letter from German Red Cross dated 6/03/1918- “Prisoner of War- In reply to yours of 25/10/1917. According to the Death List before us of British Soldiers, Pte. Joseph Miller 16th Battalion AIF, “C” Company died 7/07/1917 as a result of G.S.W. to abdomen and was buried in the Soldiers Cemetery Valenciennes Grave No. 761 Coffin No. 259. We have no further details”.
COPY OF THE DECISION OF THE COURT OF ENQUIRY
To the English Prisoner Battalion DENAIN- The English Prisoner of War No. 6297, Joseph Miller, escaped from the prison Camp at Saint Saulve in the night from 6-7 July 1917, and was shot by the guard in his flight because he did not obey the command to halt. Death supervened on 7/07/1917 between 12.15 and 12.30 a.m. as a result of gunshot wound. That death resulted from a gunshot wound is confirmed by the Inquest held. Miller is buried in this Soldier Cemetery – Grave 18. Coffin 159. Seal, Prisoner Kommanditive”.
GERMAN COURT OF ENQUIRY COVER–UP
A number of fellow inmate Prisoners of War witness statements are on Private Miller’s National Archives File- There is no doubt that Miller was returning into the camp, after searching for food on the outside of the wall due to his starved condition. The following extract from a statement by 2370. L/CPL. TOMLEY E. W. 16th Battalion A.I.F is believed to be the most accurate description of MILLER’S death- “He was in a starved condition and broke out of the camp to get potatoes from a neighbouring garden. It was on his return to camp that he was shot through the heart by a sentry from a distance of a few yards at 11.00 p.m.”
STATEMENTS FROM AUSTRALIAN SOLDIERS WHO WITNESSED THE KILLING OF PTE. JOSEPH MILLER – 6297 – 16th Battalion – A.I.F.
GIESE, Pte. 3786 – 13th Battalion – “While working behind the lines in France I saw Pte. MILLER, P, 16th Battalion shot dead by a German sentry when he was trying to get food”.
KYLE, Pte. H. B. 2012 – 16th Battalion – “At Valenciennes, Pte. MILLER 16th Battalion who was in a starving condition, attempted to take some potatoes growing in a field close by and was shot dead by one of the sentries”.
MEASURES, Pte. J – 16th Battalion, FORD, Pte. Frank – 16th Battalion 20th Reinforcements – “Saw him killed by a rifle shot from a German sentry. He had climbed over the wall of the camp where he was working behind the lines to gather a few potatoes and was shot while bringing them back. MILLER’s number was 6297, his name Joseph and he came with the 20th Reinforcements”.
RILAT, Cpl. L 1231 – 15th Battalion – “6297 Pte. MILLER, J 16th Battalion jumped over a low wall to collect some potatoes nearby. He was starving. On entering the Lager again, he was shot by a sentry. I saw his dead body being removed by the French next morning, 7/07/1917”.
LEIPER, Pte. T – 1514 – C Company & BYRON, Pte. N. P. – 1198 – 13th Battalion B Company – “He got out of camp to dig up some potatoes or anything he could get to eat. He was on his way back, when shot by sentry at wall of camp. Hit in Heart. They took four of our men out of camp to carry his body in. He was taken then to Hospital for burial. Our interpreter went down next day, when Authorities held some sort of Enquiry, when they brought it in that he had been trying to escape. His body was taken down to Valenciennes for burial. Our interpreter of 13th Battalion told us this”.
Footnote:
1. Pte Millers death was a tragedy. He was clearly suffering from starvation when he sought to gather some potatoes from the farm, it would appear he was not attempting to escape and indeed was returning to the POW camp when he was shot dead by the sentry. One can only imagine the anguish of his wife when informed of his death.
2. Huntley Farm Collie provided milk and Dairy products to the Collie district. The property owner was William Henry (Harry) Wardell-Johnson, his son Cecil served with the 32nd Infantry Battalion during WW1.
Private Joseph (paddy) MILLER - Remembered forever at the Collie Cardiff RSL Sub Branch
‘Lest we Forget’