Ernest Millband

Ernest was the son of Arthur and Teresa (also Theresa) Millband (née James). His father Arthur was born in Nether Broughton, Leicestershire, in 1865 (O/N/D Melton Mowbray Leics), the son of Thomas and Sarah Millband. The family had moved to Nottingham by 1881 and in 1891 was living at 28 Clayton Street, Nottingham. His mother Teresa James was born in Salford, Lancashire, in 1865 (O/N/D Salford Lancashire). Arthur and Teresa were married in 1884 (J/A/S Nottingham) and had two sons, both born in Nottingham: Alfred Arthur birth registered 1886 (J/F/M Nottingham) and Ernest b. 1889 (J/A/S Nottingham) bap. Sneinton St Stephen 4 May 1891. In 1891 Arthur, a coal carter, and Teresa were living in Providence Square, Hermit Street, Sneinton, with their sons Alfred (5) and Ernest (2). Arthur joined the Militia in 1891 (see 'Extra information'). By 1901 the famiy had moved to 33 Linden Street, Mansfield. Both Arthur and his son Alfred were working as coal hewers. Ernest enlisted in the Reserve Division of the Militia in 1906. He gave his address as 10 Highfield Terrace, Mansfield, where he lived with his parents, Arthur and Teresa. According to his army service record he had lived at that address for over 12 months. Alfred Arthur married Fanny Beardsley in 1906 (J/F/M Mansfield) and in 1911 they were living at 10 Highfield Terrace, Mansfield, with their son Ernest (2, b. 1908 J/A/S Mansfield) who was the only one of three children to survive infancy. Also in the home on the night of the census were two boarders. One of the children who died in infancy was probably Jessie b.1909 (J/A/S Mansfield) d. 1909 (J/A/S Mansfield). They later had Nora b. 16 September 1916 (O/N/D Doncaster) and probably another child who died young, Alfred A. b. 1914 (O/N/D Doncaster) d. 1915 (J/A/S Salford Lancs). Teresa Millband was living at 16 Clarkson Street, Mansfield, in 1911; she was married but her husband Arthur was not in the home on the night of the census. In the household were her son Ernest (22) a coal miner hewer, three boarders (two police officers and a butcher) and her nephew Joseph Charles Bucknall (37) a coal miner hewer, his wife Harriet Ada (32) and their daughter Doris (8) who were all born in Nottingham. Charles and Harriet (née Eley) were married on 1 April 1899 at Nottingham St Nicholas and in 1901 had been living at 23 Linden Street, Mansfield, with their daughter May (1) who died young. Arthur Millband snr. has not yet been traced on the 1911 Census. He may have died in 1931 (O/N/D Nottingham). Ernest married Sarah Hilda Atfield (b. 3 March 1892) in 1913 (O/N/D Mansfield); there were probably no children of the marriage. Sarah married Thomas F. Challis in 1922 (J/A/S Mansfield); the CWGC record gives their address as 60 Booth Crescent, Bull Farm, Mansfield. In 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled Sarah and Thomas (b. March 1892), a corporation park attendant, were living on Welbeck Street, Mansfield. Sarah died in 1967 (J/F/M Mansfield). Ernest's brother Alfred Arthur was living in Kirkby in Ashfield in 1939; he was still a colliery worker. Also in the home were his wife Fanny (b. 11 January 1889) and their daughter Nora, a hosiery worker. Nora married Arthur Brown in 1940 (J/F/M Basford) and died in 2006 (J/A/S North Yorkshire). Alfred died in 1953 (J/F/M Scarborough Yorkshire) and Fanny in 1954 (O/N/D Scarborough).

Coal miner at Sherwood Colliery, Mansfield Woodhouse.

Ernest joined the Reserve Division of the Militia (Sherwood Foresters) on 1 December 1906; he was 18 years 1 month old and gave his trade as draper's assistant although on subsequent records he was a colliery worker. He was living with his parents at 10 Highfield Terrace, Mansfield. A separate army service record shows that he attested in the 4th Bn Sherwood Foresters on 19 January 1907, joining at Derby the same day and posted on 30 May the same year. He was dischargd by purchase (£18) at his own request on 30 June 1908. He then enlisted on 7 September 1914 in Mansfield and served with the 8th battalion Sherwood Foresters. He undertook six months training at Harpenden and Baintree then served in France from 2nd March 1915. He later trained as a bomb thrower. Ernest was promoted to sergeant a few months before his death. He was killed by a grenade on 14th October 1915 while in a small party of volunteers holding a German trench that had been captured. (See 'Eztra information') He has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Loos Memorial, France (Panel 87).

Ernest's brother Alfred Arthur may also have served in the war; he survived. Ernest's father, Arthur Millband, enlisted in the Sherwood Foresters (Militia) in 1891; he had previously served in the 4th Bn Sherwood Foresters but had been discharged by purchase. Arthur was married, lived at 1 Providence Square, Sneinton, and worked as a labourer for the Cossall Collery Company. He attested in the Reserve on 5 August 1892 and re-engaged in July 1895; he was present for drills between 1892-1895. Ernest's uncle, Alfred Millband (b. abt 1868), also joined the army serving initially in the Militia (4th Bn Sherwood Foresters) but then in the Rifle Brigade enlisting on a Short Service Engagement (5 years with the Colours and 7 years with the Army Reserve) although he extended his service. He was 18 years 3 months old when he enlisted and working as a collier; he lived with his parents, Thomas and Sarah, at 36 Trafford Street, Wilford Road, Meadows. Alfred served with the Rifle Brigade from 1884 to 1901: Home 27 October 1884-11 January 1886; Gibraltar 12 January 1886-4 October 1886; India 5 October 1886-6 December 1886; Burma 7 December 1886-14 December 1888;, India 15 December 1888-21 February 1892; Home 22 February 1892-26 October 1901. Alfred transferred to the Reserve on 27 October 1896 but was recalled on 25 January 1900 then discharged on 27 October 1901. He qualified for the Burma Medal and Clasps, 1885-87, 1887-89 (Third Burma War). Alfred attested in the Territorial Force in January 1915; he was 47 years old, married and living at 161 Sherwood Street, Mansfield. He served in the Labour Corps (home service) and was demobliized on 2 March 1919. Alfred married Emma Green in 1909 (A/M/J Mansfield) and in 1911 he and Emma (26) were living at 187 Blake Street, Mansfield Woodhouse, with their two sons, John William and Alfred. Registers of Soldiers' Effects: his widow, Sarah Hilda, was his sole legatee. Mansfield Reporter, 5 November 1915: ‘Mansfield Woodhouse Hero. Gallant Sergeant Killed 'The sad news came to hand last week (though unofficial), of the death of Sergeant E Millband, of the 8th Battalion Sherwood Foresters. He enlisted on September 7th, 1914, having served two and a half years before, in the Notts and Derby Regiment. He volunteered for Red Cross work, but did not wait to go with them. After six months’ training at Harpenden and Baintree he went to France on March 3rd, and took part in some severe fighting. He was chosen to be a bomb thrower, which is dangerous work. About two months ago he was promoted to sergeant, and this delayed his leave. Last week in the big battle which took place he volunteered with twelve others, including NCOs, to hold a captured position until relief came. After fifteen hours’ continuous bomb throwing only two were left. One fell exhausted, and Sergeant Millband took his place and was hit by a German grenade in the head and killed. Many kind letters of sympathy have been received from France relating how good a soldier he was and how sadly he will be missed. He leaves a widow to mourn her loss. They had been married only two years. His parents live in Manchester, having left Mansfield two years ago. Previous to enlisting he was employed at the Sherwood Colliery, and was well known in Mansfield. 'Dear Mrs Millband. You will by now have heard the sad news about your husband. I write in the hope that it will be some slight consolation to you to know he died very bravely doing his duty. He was, together with some other men, helping to defence a barricade which had been erected in a German trench we had captured. He was killed by a bomb which was thrown over the barricade by the Germans. Your husband and I had only become associated together quite recently when he joined my company. But in the short time we worked together I discovered him to be a most useful and reliable NCO, who took a real delight in doing his work thoroughly. His death means a great loss to us in our company, and we feel for you in the far greater loss it means to you. Yours very truly, JM, Com. Officer. 'Dear Mrs Millband. I write these few lines as a personal friend of Ernest’s, and am sorry to inform you of the sad fatality that has overcome you, but I expect you will have got to know of his death by now, but on behalf of the platoon to which he was attached, in which he was thought a lot of, being greatly interested in his work, which was, as I expect you know, bomb throwing. I did not happen to be near when he got wounded, although in the same trench. But they say he was hit in the head by a piece of a German grenade and died shortly after. The platoon, NCOs, and men send their deepest sympathy at the loss of so good a soldier, and I can tell you he will be sadly missed by all who knew him. I don not know his parents’ address, although I lived close to them when they lived at Mansfield. That is when they were in Highfield-terrace, and my parents live there yet, three doors from where they used to live. The parcel that you sent arrived her yesterday (Sunday), and it was divided up between the bomb throwers and platoon for if we had sent it back it it would not have got back to Mansfield, so it was thought best that it should be shared up between his pals. I think I will now close, I remain, yours sincerely, Lance-Corpl, W Harrison, No 2722 8th Battn,. SF D Company BEF France.' (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)