Maurice Alfred Miller

A Lance Corporal with the 1/5th Battalion, Maurice died on 16th of August 1917 at the age of 24. 

Maurice was born at Upper Norwood, London, on 24 April 1893, a son of Alfred James and Alice Ann Miller. In 1901 his family lived at 21 Ipswich Road, Lowestoft. Maurice was baptised at Saint Margaret’s Church, Lowestoft, on 24 April 1908, and his family lived at Trafalgar House, Milton Road. Later his family lived at 17 Old Nelson Street, Lowestoft. In 1911 Maurice lived, and worked, at 204 Norwood Road, West Norwood, and he worked as a draper’s assistant.  

Maurice enlisted in the Army at Lowestoft. He joined the Essex Regiment, service number 24832. He was transferred to the Durham Light Infantry, service number 9451, and posted to the 1/5th Battalion in France. In 1917 he was renumbered 200983. 

Between 5 and 20 August 1917 the 1/5th Battalion were in trenches near Neuville Vitasse. The battalion war diary gives no information about the battalion’s activities or casualties during this period. Maurice was killed in action on 16 August along with three other men of the battalion.