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The Great War (1914-1918) Forum

Alexander Miller 19th Reinforcement New Zealand


Nizzeh

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Hey there :)

I just recently discovered another of my great, great uncles namely Alexander Miller. He married Elizabeth McIntyre in June 1916 and that is all I know about him other than he was born sometime in 1891. If anyone can help and/or shed some light on this division/ find his service record that would be brilliant. From the marriage certificate: Alex's father: James Wilson Miller

and his mother: Catherine Miller (Nee it's hard to read but starts with Golda) They were all living in Dunedin.

Thanks,

David.

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I have found him David

Alexander Miller was a Quarter Master Sargent.

http://muse.auckland...i,+1914-1918%22

Now that I have more to go on with the information from the marriage cert there will be a bit of information avaiable.

His war file is unavailable at Archives New Zealand, I'll have to have a hunt for it with the New Zealand Defence Force.

Only thing I cant work out is why is he wearing 19th insignia and his cenotaph record says he was with the 24th's (this could be an error as the files often do have them)

post-49999-0-51524300-1317940472.jpg

Edited by Wendy Mac...
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I have found him David

Alexander Miller was a Quarter Master Sargent Shipping Clerk.

http://muse.auckland...i,+1914-1918%22

Now that I have more to go on with the information from the marriage cert there will be a bit of information avaiable.

His war file is unavailable at Archives New Zealand, I'll have to have a hunt for it with the New Zealand Defence Force or Navy.

post-49999-0-51524300-1317940472.jpg

the picture says his wife is Mrs A Miller, Our Alex's wife is Elizabeth..? Or am I reading it wrong? :S

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A good possibility working on the age subtracted which came out at a DOB of 1890 ~ It would appear that Elizabeth died in 1918 two years after they married did you know that David dose it sound right to you? There will possibly be no children from this marriage, I wonder if Elizabeth was sick and that's why Alexander didn't embark for another six months.

I'm just looking at the census at the moment. I cant find any record of Elizabeth after the 1914 census, the next census was in 1919 and she is no where to be found. Alexander moves around quite a bit, I will come back with address's for you

This information is courtesy of a local genealogy forum I use.

Source NZSG Cemetery Fiche

Surname MILLER

Given Names Alexander

Year of Death 1954

Record Number 12050

Record Type B/R

Age 64

Location Southern Dunedin S08.38

Source NZSG Cemetery Fiche

Surname MILLER

Given Names Elizabeth

Year of Death 1918

Record Number 9159

Record Type B/R

Age 27

Location Dunedin Southern Burials S08.37

Cemetery Details Surname MILLER

Forename ALEXANDER

Age 64 Years

Gender Male

Date of Death 16 Oct 1954

Place of Death

Last Address MIHIWAKA

Next of Kin

Funeral Director Hugh Gourley Ltd, Grant Street, DUNEDIN

Cemetery SOUTHERN CEMETERY

Location Block 110A. Plot 16

Date of Burial 18 Oct 1954

Type Burial

Date of Cremation

Type of Service

Ashes Disposal

Occupation

Place of Birth

Date of Birth Not recorded

Notes Original reference:- S19541004

Occupation:- CLERK

Native of:- NZ

Years in NZ:- 64

Place died:- MIHIWAKA

The following burials are also in this Plot

MILLER ELIZABETH 27 Years Burial 1 Dec 1918

MILLER ISABELLA GRANT G 65 Years Ashes Burial 21 Jun 1959

WILLIAMS ALBERT 27 Years Burial 6 Oct 1899

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1905, Alexander Miller, Grosvenor Street Engineer, he would have been 15 years old.

1911, 1914 Electoral Rolls and Census has Alexander Miller living at 97 Grosvenor Street Caversham which is a suburb of Dunedin New Zealand today. Caversham may have been a little distance to Dunedin back in the early 1900's. Alexander was listed as living with the following people: His name included

Miller Alexander 'Salesman'

Miller Isabella Spinster (Buried at the cemetery with this lady)

Miller John Clerk

Miller Mary Married (either to John or Thomas haven't looked into it)

Miller May Spinster

Miller Thomas Railway Clerk

Then a couple of Electoral rolls missing.

1925,1928, 1931,1935, 1938 I have a Alexander Miller and Agnes Miller (Married) living at 75 Eglinton Road Mornington Dunedin and now the occupation is 'Manager'

I haven't cross referenced this entry with a marriage record so should be treated with caution.

Information is kindly given with permission from the Caversham Project.

I have also found that Alexander Miller did embark with the 24th's on board the Devon HMNZT 81 his name is on the passenger list.

Wendy

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:blush: Aww thanks guys.

I dont have any genealogy subscriptions and that information came off two free web sites that the ladies on trademe genealogy gave me to hunt through. Took a bit of searching but was a good task to learn to do.

David there are hardly any photos of the 19th's around. They are my main interest as two of my GU's served with them. I search everywhere I think I'll find something. You'll notice on my blurb that Roger has put up that I have found a lot of those pictures in other peoples collections. The Auckland Weekly News was the big paper that published all the war news of the day and I have included all those images in the thread. I make regular trips to our military museum and the Wairarapa Archives in Masterton, the same district where Featherston Military camp was for the first and second world wars. They have found me two in the last four years!!

I'm constantly on the hunt and if any other images are found I will be sure to add them to the thread. I'm very happy to share all information and images I find with anyone interested.

If you would like any of the images from the thread I'm happy to send you high res copies. I haven't forgotten about Alexanders war file I'll look into that ASAP for you. Wendy

Silvered sweetheart badge ~ collar of the 19th's

post-49999-0-45197600-1318026529.jpg

Silver sweetheart ladies small coat pin ~ 19th's

post-49999-0-69873300-1318026497.jpg

Shoulder insignia ~ A Coy 19th Reinforcements New Zealand Rifles

post-49999-0-11061200-1318026586.jpg

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Wohoo.... I have just started looking for Alexanders war file at Archives New Zealand having no luck so far but have come across Elizabeth's probate http://www.archway.archives.govt.nz/ViewFullItem.do?code=22064386

Also have found that a lady by the name of Margaret Miller owned 3 Ann street Dunedin, would look like Alexander and Elizabeth were boarding with her and that's why that address is on their marriage cert. I'll keep looking and see what I come up with.

Wendy

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Haha... I never fail to amaze my self either!

I have just had a reply from the Dunedin Archives. As follows.....

Thank you for your email of 10 October 2011 regarding Alexander Miller.

Mr Miller's Army number is mentioned in Elizabeth Miller's probate file. It could be that Alexander Miller continued involvement with the armed forces in some form after the First World War, and if so, his file would still be with the New Zealand Defence Force, Personnel Archives, P O Box 905, Upper Hutt 5140. Email: personnel.archives@nzdf.mil.nz With his Army number, you could contact NZDF to see what they can tell you.

With regard to his probate, all our probates are listed on Archway and as his name does not appear there, the reason is probably because at time of death, his estate did not require to be probated, on account of its small size.

If you know someone in Dunedin who can come in and photograph Elizabeth Miller's probate file (no flash) it will not cost anything. Otherwise I can arrange a copy of Elizabeth Miller's probate for you and this will cost $20.00 – which includes copying.

David based on the information about Elizabeth's probate having Alexanders service record mentioned, It will be necessary to get the probate in order to get the number. I was hoping they would reply and include Elizabeth's probate so we didn't have to get it. Anyway I'll go back onto my local forum and get a volunteer to go to the Dunedin Archives and photograph or copy the probate.

Were half way down the road with this now so we may as well get to the bottom of it, as long as your agreeable?? If you have an interest in researching Alexander I'll take it further. I know you were really after Elizabeth's brother McIntyre.

Wendy

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Haha... I never fail to amaze my self either!

I have just had a reply from the Dunedin Archives. As follows.....

Thank you for your email of 10 October 2011 regarding Alexander Miller.

Mr Miller's Army number is mentioned in Elizabeth Miller's probate file. It could be that Alexander Miller continued involvement with the armed forces in some form after the First World War, and if so, his file would still be with the New Zealand Defence Force, Personnel Archives, P O Box 905, Upper Hutt 5140. Email: personnel.archives@nzdf.mil.nz With his Army number, you could contact NZDF to see what they can tell you.

With regard to his probate, all our probates are listed on Archway and as his name does not appear there, the reason is probably because at time of death, his estate did not require to be probated, on account of its small size.

If you know someone in Dunedin who can come in and photograph Elizabeth Miller's probate file (no flash) it will not cost anything. Otherwise I can arrange a copy of Elizabeth Miller's probate for you and this will cost $20.00 – which includes copying.

David based on the information about Elizabeth's probate having Alexanders service record mentioned, It will be necessary to get the probate in order to get the number. I was hoping they would reply and include Elizabeth's probate so we didn't have to get it. Anyway I'll go back onto my local forum and get a volunteer to go to the Dunedin Archives and photograph or copy the probate.

Were half way down the road with this now so we may as well get to the bottom of it, as long as your agreeable?? If you have an interest in researching Alexander I'll take it further. I know you were really after Elizabeth's brother McIntyre.

Wendy

Most certainly Wendy, That would be great.

Thanks

David.

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Sure thing David :thumbsup:

I have emailed you Elizabeth's Will and am off the the archives in the next few days so will make inquiries for you.

Wendy

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  • 1 month later...

Hi David

I've had no luck with finding Alexanders war file, defence force say they dont have it but are going to do a search, may have a email back from them in the next few days or possibly in the new year.

I'm just having a clean up in the photo department and didn't want to delete the photos of Elizabeth and Alexanders grave until I confirmed with you that you saved a copy of the set..

Will get back to you with any news as soon as I have any.

Wendy

post-49999-0-20462400-1323727206.jpg

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