Edgar Stanley
Miller was born in Lewes, Sussex about 1888. He appears
on the 1891 census as a two year old living at Old Malling, Sussex. The household comprised 43 year old Benjamin Miller (a miller’s
carter), his 42 year old wife Harriet (a caretaker) and their six children: Albert
J Miller (aged 16), William Richard Miller (aged 11), Edward Alfred Miller (aged nine), Alice Jane Miller (aged seven), Joseph
Charles Miller (aged five) and Edgar.
By the time the
1901 census was taken he was a 12 year old scholar living with his family at Anchor Cottage, Barcombe. William and Joseph were still living there but Albert had moved to Mayfield and was living there with his
family, while Alice was working as a housemaid at Little Buckingham Farm, Old Shoreham.
I can find no trace of Edward or another daughter – Elizabeth – born
around 1877.
Chailey Parish
Magazine notes him for the first time In November 1916 as Miller, Pte E S, 3rd Royal
Sussex, England and then repeats this information up to December 1917. In January 1918 however it notes that he is now serving with the King’s Own Scottish Borderers and
this information is then repeated up to and including the finmal published roll call in July 1919.
The National Archives’
on-line medal information card index confirms Edgar’s service with the two regiments giving his Royal Sussex Regiment
number as 19565 and his KOSB number as 32133. He is noted by his full name, Edgar
Stanley Miller.
It is possible
that he was posted to another line battalion of the Royal Sussex Regiment (the 3rd battalion being a reserve battalion),
was wounded and then transferred to the KOSB. It is also almost certain that,
like his brothers Albert, Joseph and William, he was conscripted into the army.
Sources and Acknowledgements
- 1881 Census of England and Wales
- 1891 Census of England and Wales
- 1901 Census of England and Wales
- The National Archives: Medal Index Card
- Chailey Parish Magazine
