Thomas Fitzharding Miller

Thomas (Tom) was the eldest son of Henry Fitzharding Miller and Clara Miller nee Chatwin. His father was the son of Henry and Mary Ann Miller. Henry Fitzharding was born on 10 January 1866 in Thornbury, Gloucestershire, and baptised on 20 May 1877 at the church of St Philip and St Jacob, Bristol. His mother Clara was the daughter of Thomas and Mary Chatwin and was baptised on 7 November 1869 in Frankton, Warwickshire. In 1881 Henry (15) was living with his parents in Thornbury, Gloucestershire, where he and his father were coach painters. However, by 1891 he was a soldier (private) at the New Barracks in Gosport, nr. Portsmouth, Hampshire. Clara had a daughter, Alice May Chatwin, who was baptised on 27 January 1889. Clara was described on the baptismal record as 'of Frankton' and a domestic servant. On census returns after 1901 Alice's surname was given as 'Miller'. In 1891 Clara (21) was one of two domestic servants in the household of a widow, Anna Fergusson (60), at 51 Clarendon Road, Portsea, Hampshire. The two-year old Alice May Chatwin was living with Clara's parents in Frankton. Henry and Clara were married in 1892 (A/M/J Rugby Warwickshire); the banns were read in Frankton parish church in June 1892. At the time Henry was still resident in Gosport. Henry and Clara had three sons and one daughter: Thomas, Charles, Robert and Clara. Thomas Henry Fitzharding was born in 1895 (A/M/J Rugby) and baptised on 12 May 1895. Charles Henry Fitzharding's birth was registered in 1895 (J/F/M Rugby) and he was baptised on 21 February 1897. Robert Fitzharding was born in 1900 (A/M/J Rugby) and baptised on 1 July 1900. All three boys were baptised in Frankton and the baptismal records give the names of their parents as Henry Fitzharding Miller (musician) and Clara Miller of Frankton. Clara Mary Doris was born in Frankton in 1903 (A/M/J Rugby) and baptised there on 11 June 1903. The baptismal record gives the names of her parents as Henry Fitzharding Miller (music hall manager) and Clara Miller, and they were recorded as living in Grimsby [Lincolnshire]. In 1892 Henry and Clara were living with Clara's parents in Frankton. In the household on the night of the census were the head of the household, Thomas Chatwin (69), a builder (employer), his wife Mary (68) and son Willie (42) a bricklayer, together with his two married daughters and their families: Clara Miller (31), her husband Henry (35), a carpenter, and their children Alice (12), Thomas (5), Charles (3) and Robert (10 months), and May Edwards/Edwardes (39) and her husband Thomas (40) a 'comedian act'. By 1911 Clara was a music hall manageress in Nottingham and living at 31 Hamden Street. She was married, but the head of household, and four of her five children were living with her: Thomas (16) a music hall clerk, and Charles (14), Robert (11) and Clara (8), probably known as 'Dolly', who were all still at school. Also in the house were Frank Spilsby (abt. 20) a boarder who worked in a music hall, and Edith Booth (23) a servant. Clara's daughter, Alice May Miller, had married Sinclair Neill on 22 April 1909 at St Chad's Church, Derby; she has not yet been traced on the 1911 Census. Her husband died on 20 May 1920, the probate record gave his address as 9 Pike's Lane, Glossop, Derbyshire and his occupation as theatre proprietor. In 1911 Clara's sister, May Edwardes, was living at Temple House, Derby, with her daughter, Florence (19); another of her children had died. She employed a housemaid and a cook. However, May also moved to Nottingham as she was living on Shearing Hill, Gedling, at the time of her death on 18 November 1933, and was buried in the family grave in Nottingham General Cemetery. There is a record of the death of a Thomas A Edwardes age 51 (b. abt 1883) registered in 1934 (June Tregaron, Wales) and this may be May's husband. Thomas's mother, Clara, died in Nottingham in May 1915 aged 45 years. The notice of her death in the local paper gave her address as 70 Talbot Street, Nottingham. Thomas' brother Charles served in the 12th Battalion Sherwood Foresters (17187 Private) and was in France from 29 August 1915. He was killed in action on 18 August 1916 (Thiepval Memorial).

In 1911 he was a music hall clerk. For a period he was secretary of the Nottingham Hippodrome.

He enlisted in Nottingham.

He enlisted in the 2nd Bn Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) in October 1915. He served in the Persian Gulf and was wounded twice, including in the attempt to relieve Kut. He also suffered from maleria and dystentry. After rejoining his battalion in Mespotomia he died in Baghdad of heat stroke on 21 July 1917. He was buried in Baghdad (North Gate) War Cemetery, [now Iraq] (grave ref: XVI A 6). He qualified for the British War Medal and Victory Medal.

Inscription on family gravestone, Nottingham General Cemetery: ‘Clara Miller died (-) May 1915 aged (45) years. Also Charles Miller, son of the above, 13th Sherwood Foresters, killed near Thiepval 18th Augt. 1916 aged 19 years. Also Thomas Miller, son of above, 2nd Royal Highlanders, died on active service at Baghdad 21st July 1917, aged 22 years. And of May Edwardes died 18th November 1933 aged 74 years.’ [May Edwardes, sister of Clara Miller] The following articles were published in the Nottingham Evening Post, (1) 21 September 1916 and (2) 2nd August 1917, and are courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918 (1) “Mr. T. Allan Edwardes, of Derby, the well-known theatre proprietor, has received an intimation of the death in action of his nephew, Private C. Miller, who enlisted in the Sherwood Foresters two years ago at the age of 17. A brother of the deceased, serving in the Black Watch, and formerly engaged at the Nottingham Hippodrome, was dangerously wounded in the attempted relief of Kut, and is now in hospital in India. Mr Edwardes's son, who was wounded in France, is progressing satisfactorily, and hopes to return to duty shortly.” (2) “The death in Mesopotamia is reported of Private Tom Miller, late of 175, Forest-road, Nottingham. Private Miller was well known to many people in the city, as he was for a number of years connected with the Nottingham Hippodrome as secretary. He enlisted in October, 1915, in the Royal Highlanders, and saw service in the Persian Gulf, being twice wounded. After two attacks of malaria followed by dysentery, he rejoined in Mesopotamia, but succumbed to heat-stroke on July 21st.” Nottingham Evening Post, 15 May 1915: ‘Miller. On the 13th inst. at 70 Talbot-street, Clara, aged 45 years. Rest in Peace.’ Registers of Soldiers' Effects: Thomas' sister Mrs Alice Neill was his sole legatee. Probate: Neill Sinclair [husband of Alice Neill nee Chatwin/Miller] of 9 Pikes-lane Glossop Derbyshire theatre proprietor died 20 May 1920 at the Great Central Railway Station Guide Bridge Lancashire Probate Derby 2 June to Thomas Allan Edwardes theatre proprietor and Abraham Neill auctioneer and valuer. Effects £8921 19s. 4d. Probate: Edwardes May [sister of Clara Miller nee Chatwin] of The Laurels Shearing Hill Gedling Nottinghamshire (wife of Thomas Allan Edwardes) died 18 November 1933 Probate Nottingham 23 January to Joshua Rutter Pattison electrical engineer. Effects £1455 17s. 7d.