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The Great War (1914-1918) Forum

South Staffordshire Regt


SPotter

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Pals,

I am looking for the assistance of any South Staffs experts. I am investigating the career and circumstances surrounding the death of 2/Lt James Miller of the 2/South Staffs, who died on 25th March 1918 and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial. Does the book recently published on the South Staffs mention him at all? I would not want to splash out a lot of money if there is no reference. I do not yet know the date of his commission so this would be very valuable info too. All I do know is that he was previously a CSM in the 1/Dorset Regt. Any contribution, no matter how small, would be gratefully received.

Many thanks

Steve

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Steve,

Strangely there is no mention of him or any other junior officers by name in the unit war diary for that day. They obviously suffered very heavily around that time and by the end of the 25th were down to 4 officers and 80 man.

Sorry I can't be of more help.

Roy

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Roy,

Thanks for the reply. It is as much as I expected really; things were more than a little 'sticky' round then so attempting to capture the deeds of the many when there were so few left to report them is perhaps expecting a bit much. I would still like to know when he was commissioned if anyone has a roll of S.Staffs officers?

Thanks

Steve

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Roy,

Thanks for the reply. It is as much as I expected really; things were more than a little 'sticky' round then so attempting to capture the deeds of the many when there were so few left to report them is perhaps expecting a bit much. I would still like to know when he was commissioned if anyone has a roll of S.Staffs officers?

Thanks

Steve

Steve,

Tonight is not a good forum night for me but if no one else comes up with an answer I'll look through the diary over the weekend to see when he joined the 2nd S. Staffs.

Roy

BTW - What book recently published on the South Staffs????????

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BTW - What book recently published on the South Staffs????????

Roy,

I meant this one, by Token Publishing, though perhaps it is not as recent as I thought?

post-746-1134198102.jpg

And the penny has just dropped that this is a list of Honours and Awards, so unlikely to be of any help anyway.

Regards

Steve

Edited by SPotter
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Phew, I thought for a moment that there was a South Staffs book I hadn't got!

This one was published in 2003, I've looked for 2/Lt James Miller but as you suspected, no joy. As promised, I'll look through the 2nd S. Staffs war diary this weekend.

Roy

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  • 2 weeks later...

Just resurrecting this post :)

Rather than the specific question posed above (unless anyone has something about 2/Lieut James MILLER they can add), I would be very pleased to hear what the 2/South Staffs were up to on the day in question ~ 25th March 1918 ~ stemming the German Tide one assumes, but where exactly?

Many thanks, and a very Merry Christmas,

Steve

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Enoch,

Very many thanks.

Steve

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Steve,

An apology; I diid the look-ups some time ago but didn't realise that I'd not posted the results. A infuriating thing about war diaries is that the emphesis on the contents seems to vary with the writer. Some periods covered by the diary give names of officers coming and going, other periods don't. I can find no date for your man joining the Batt'n.

He is mentioned twice as far as I can see, both times in 'Movement Order 106' (see below.)

post-336-1135594248.jpg

post-336-1135594293.jpg

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Steve,

The diary givethe following entries for 24th and 25th March '18.

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Roy,

Very many thanks for the replies, most useful. It's always nice to see the subject of one's search actually recorded. Could I please ask the NA Ref for the two movement orders and war diary you have attached? I hope, one day soon, to get to Kew to view the diary for myself, but if you don't mind I'll PM you about obtaining a photocopy of your attachments, as reading them is something of a struggle based on the limited size of allowable posts.

Many thanks again.

Steve

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Roy,

Very many thanks for the replies, most useful. It's always nice to see the subject of one's search actually recorded. Could I please ask the NA Ref for the two movement orders and war diary you have attached? I hope, one day soon, to get to Kew to view the diary for myself, but if you don't mind I'll PM you about obtaining a photocopy of your attachments, as reading them is something of a struggle based on the limited size of allowable posts.

Many thanks again.

Steve

Steve,

Afraid that I can't help with the NA Ref since I got my copies from the Regt. museum. Happy to do photocopies when I return to work next week.

Roy

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Roy,

Terrific - much obliged.

Steve

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