soldier-of-the-month

SOLDIER OF THE MONTH

Lieutenant Robert 'Rob' Miller M.C.

(1898 - 1917)

The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)

Portrait of Robert Miller by Herbert J. Gunn (1893-1964) who served in the same Battalion

Robert “Rob” Miller was born in 1898. His parents were Robert Miller SSC (Society of the Holy Cross) and Mary A W Miller of Midmar Gardens, Edinburgh.

On 24 March 1916, at the age of 17 he joined the 3rd Battalion of The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) as a 2nd Lieutenant. He was promoted to Lieutenant on 1 April 1916 and was attached to the 10th Battalion The Cameronians on 24 September 1916.

In April 1917, the 10th Battalion, now at Duisans, a village in north-east France, began rehearsals for an attack planned for later that month. In between all the military activity there was time for baths and sittings with the local photographer. On the night of 6th April the Battalion moved to cellars in the town of Arras and on the following Sunday Church services were held in the cellars in the morning and the rest of the day was spent with issuing rations and ammunition, the fitting of equipment and the evening passed in company concerts.

On the day of the attack “A” Company emerged from the cellars by a sewer. Lt Rob Miller commanded the Company. The route they were to take in the attack had code names: “SEWER - BOVET TRENCH - IVORY STREET - INNS OF COURT - INCOME TAX”.

The 10th Battalion War Diary has preserved the originals of messages from Rob Miller sent in the thick of the fighting. For example:

“Am in Sunken Road at INTERMEDIATE LINE. No opposition.
There are Huns [German soldiers] in dug-outs at G.26.b.9.9. and am dealing with them. Have no connection on the right. C.Coy is on the left.

(Signed) ROBERT MILLER.”

It was a very successful day for Lt Miller, who “led his Company so finely” The authors of the private-circulation history of the 10th Battalion wrote:

“…A quite wonderful day. The writer can well remember, and always will, the tremendously strong feeling of elation…”

A large number of prisoners and artillery was captured. One of the guns was displayed for many years at Hamilton Barracks [now the Hamilton Campus of the University of the West of Scotland]. Rob was awarded the Military Cross for his work in that attack. The citation for the award was written by his Battalion Commander, A C Stanley Clarke (one of our Soldiers of the Month):

“For gallantry and devotion to duty during operations 9th to 11th April. He led his men with skill and shewed a fine example of courage and coolness under shell fire throughout the advance. He sent back useful information throughout and took 4 field howitzer and 1 officer and 28 O.R. during the advance to the final objective. After reaching the final objective his company took a further 37 prisoners. The success achieved by his company was in large measure due to his leadership and example.”

Later that April, a further attack was ordered near Arras in the area of Cavalry Farm. Optimistically as it turned out, the men trained in open warfare to exploit the expected breakthrough. Rob Miller led his Company again. Again the attack was successful but all four Company commanders were hit.

“But our pride and pleasure in this good news [of the successful attack and the award of gallantry medals] was marred by the official report of the death from wounds of Robert Miller. To all who had known him the realisation that never again should we see this gallant, gay-hearted boy came as a very real blow. With officers and men alike " Rob " was a favourite. Yet when we remembered his gallant leading of his Company on 9th April and his pluck when wounded on the 24th it was not possible to prevent feelings of pride and admiration mingling with those of sadness and deep sympathy for his relatives.”

Rob was fatally wounded leading his men during the attack and died at Arras of his wounds the next day, Wednesday 25 April 1917.

He was 19.

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