GEORGE MILLS 

C.W.G.C. - It is possible to just input the name of a place, town or village and see what surnames are brought up for that town or village, this has been done for Weaverham, Cuddington, Acton Bridge and Sandiway. Amongst others George Mills is recorded with a connection to Weaverham as his wife, Prue, is recorded as living in Weaverham. George is not on the Weaverham main memorial and as you read through the Guardian article you will see George and his family lived at Davenham & Castle but by the time the C.W.G.C. had completed their work, George’s wife lived in Weaverham.

C.W.G.C. record the death of George, who died on the 17th June 1915, aged 25 and is remembered at Spoilbank Cemetery, Belgium. George was with the 1st/5th Bn. Cheshire Regiment No. 2030. Husband of Prudence Mills of 21 Heath Rd., Owley Wood, Weaverham. Inscription; “DEATH DIVIDES DUTY DONE.”

The following Guardian Article places the family at Green Lane, Davenham.
Guardian article 25/6/15, P5/C1;
DAVENHAM TERRITORIAL KILLED LANCE-CORPORAL GEORGE MILLS WITTON FOOTBALLER SENDS SAD NEWS.

It is with deep regret that we record the death at the front of another Northwich Territorial, Lance-Corporal G. Mills of Green Lane, Davenham. The deceased,who was only 23 years of age who, is a labourer in the employ of Messrs Brunner Mond and Company and had been in the Territorial a few years. He leaves a widow and two young children to mourn their great loss. The first intimation of Mill’s death was a letter which Lance-Corporal Pardoe the Witton Albion goalkeeper sent to Mr. William Mills of 70 Huxley Street, Castle, the deceased’s uncle. It reads as follows;- “It is with the deepest regret that I write these few lines to advise you of the death of your nephew Lance-Corporal George Mills. I would like you to break the sad news gently to his wife. He received his death wound in action at 1am yesterday (Thursday), 17th May, whilst gallantly carrying out his duty and passed away peacefully a few hours later at the dressing station without recovering consciousness, not withstanding all effort to save him. It is a terrible blow to me and also all his best chums and he had many. Our sincerest sympathy is extended to you all. He was buried last night in the Cheshire Cemetery by the side of other fallen comrades and a cross bearing his name and regiment marks the spot. Unfortunately, I could not be released from duty in the fire trench to attend his funeral but his cousin W. M. Poole was there together with a number of George’s chums. I should like you to mention to his sister that I will do everything within my power to look after Percy. He is naturally very upset but is bearing up well. If there is anything more you wish to know I will do my utmost to inform you.

P.S. I have written this on behalf of Percy and all the “boys” of “D” Company.

The deceased’s cousin Private W. M. Poole who is with the machine gun section of the 5th Cheshire Regiment, writing to his father, Mr. Edgar Poole of Church Walk Northwich, says “No doubt you will be surprised to hear from me again so soon, as I have just sent a letter in but I have some bad news to tell you. I do not know how to go about it hardly but I feel to upset, Percy is almost broken hearted over it. Well the sad news is George has been killed. He was shot in the head on Wednesday May 16th and he passed away on Thursday the 17th at about two o’clock in the morning. He was out on patrol with three others and one of those was wounded.” I want you to soften the sad news to his wife, and tell her that all the lads from Northwich express their deepest sympathy with her in her hour of great trouble. He was well respected throughout the company and his loss will be felt very much but there is one consolation and that is he died the noblest death a man could do and that is he gave his life for his King and country and the dear ones at home.

He was laid to rest in a proper grave just behind the firing line, where a good many more of our comrades lie and a service was read over him. I my self assisted in putting him in his last resting place and a nice wooden cross was put on the grave bearing his name and regimental number. I have had a bit of a scrape myself this week. I was half buried and was hit with a bit of shell on the head , but the wound was very slight, and is nearly better. I hope George’s wife will soon get over the great trouble which has befallen her.” The deceased’s brother Percy who is referred to in Lance-Corporal Pardoe’s letter, is only 18 years of age and is the adopted son of Mrs Mill’s at 70 Huxley Street.

DECEASED’S THOUGHT OF HIS CHILDREN A TOUCHING INCIDENT.

The deceased leaves two little boys, one about three years of age and the other six months old – born since he was ordered to the Front. In his past letter to his uncle he says:- “Prue, [his wife] tells me she is going to britch Sammy on Sunday. I should love to see him, bless him. I know he is getting a big lad now. I guess baby will soon be able to walk eh! I would give something to look at them now.” On receipt of that letter Mrs Mills had the children photographed and sent one to the deceased with the inscription on the back “Good luck to Daddy.” Unfortunately, the picture which would doubtless have brought so much joy to the soldier father’s heart did not arrive until just after his death.

BROUGHT IN BY SERGEANT CROSS SHOT IN THE MOUTH

Sergeant W. Cross, writing to Mrs Mills says:- As a brother non-commissioned officer, I take its my duty to inform you of the time and place George received his wound and eventually died. You may have had some earlier intimation, but I will endeavour to give you every detail: Towards the evening of the 16th, George and a party of three taken out of section received instructions to form a patrol for that night. The orders were not generally known but it was important work. However at 10pm George came to me and we talked for sometime trying to decide the best mode of procedure. At 10:30 the party slipped quietly out and we all turned to our various duties, for I can assure you we have much to do at night time.”

“About ten minutes after one o’clock a great outburst of firing broke out on the left and on the other flank where George was working the firing was just desultory until a German patrol was sighted attempting to throw grenades. In turn they got a similar medicine from our chaps and as soon as it abated a chap jumped in the trench bleeding in the arms, legs and the head. When he received attention we learned that Corporal Mills was wounded somewhere in front. That was enough for several standing by and very soon search parties were out looking for him. But it was to me the honour of finding him fell, for after wandering a short distance to the right I was attracted by a deserted rifle. I attended to his wounds, which he had received in the mouth and then got him back to the trench. Quickly he was taken to the clearing station and it was from there we learned of his death at 3:30 on the 17th Inst. I may tell you no one was more surprised than me at the sad intelligence for I thought there was every hope. We buried him near to Oswald Nicholas in the Cheshire Cemetery. I will now conclude, asking you to accept the deepest sympathy of his comrades and myself in your sad bereavement.”

DECEASED’S BROTHER IN THE SAME REGIMENT.

Private Percy Mills a brother of the deceased who is in the same regiment, writing to his sister-in-law from France on Sunday last, says “I expect you will have heard of the death of our dear George. I have kept this letter back, as I did not want to be the first to break the sad news to you, but try and keep-up as well as you can and the dear little children – God bless them.” “He died like a soldier, true to his King and country. I am very much upset and it is hard for me to tell you but try and keep up as well as you can.” “I will endeavour to get home on leave and I have already seen our officer about it.”

SYMPATHY WITH MRS MILLS.

Mrs Mills has received numerous letters of sympathy from residents of Davenham and Leftwich and amongst these is one from Mr. C. E. Newell, chairman of the Leftwich Parish Council, who states:- “I am very sorry to hear that you have received news of the death of your husband and although not official, I fear the source of the news is only too true and I beg to offer you and the children my deepest sympathy in your great loss which you have sustained. Your husband, like so many other brave heroes, has given his life for his King and country and in order to save our women and children from the terrible atrocities on the Belgian people. In the midst of your sorry you have every reason to be proud of your husband.

Carl’s Cam records that George Mills is remembered on the Davenham Memorial and on the B. M. & Co. Winnington Works Memorial.

B. M. & Co. R.o.H. record 2 lads named George Mills at the Winnington Works, one lad is recorded with the 3rd Cheshires with the rank of Sergt. The second lad was with the 5th Cheshires, rank of L/Cpl. and the booklet states he was “Killed in Action.”

N.A.M.C. - have 2 cards for George, he was with the Cheshire Regiment No 2030 Lance Corporal. George’s Theatre of War was France and his Date of Entry was 15th Feb. 1915. He Died of his Wounds 17th June 1915. His family would have been awarded the British, Victory and 15 Star medals.

Guardian Article 9/7/15, P6/C1; DEAD SOLDIERS DIARY. HOW THE LATE CORPORAL MILL RECORDED EVENTS.

The personal belongings of the late Corporal G. Mill of Green-lane, Davenham who was fatally wounded whilst with the Northwich Territorials at the Front on June 16th and died the following day, have just been sent by his brother Percy, of the same company, to his uncle, Mr. W. Mills of 70 Huxley Street, Northwich. They include a brass whistle sent to him by his uncle, a mouth organ, a flute, a knife, a tobacco pouch full of tobacco, a pair of rubber gloves, a knife and fork and a diary.

The letter commences on May 19th and reads:-

“Out on fatigues work at night. Had rather an unpleasant experience. Having fallen out with a man – S. Robinson - with a sprained ankle. I stopped a limber of the 5th Lincolns and asked the driver where he was going. He told me between _____ and _______. I knew ? (his company) were somewhere between the two places and I grasped the opportunity of getting back easily with Robinson. Anyhow, after a nice joy ride – I don’t think – of about 4 miles we alighted, as we thought, somewhere near our bivouac. It was pitch dark and raining like the de___. We traversed one road for about a quarter for a mile, and then came to four lane ends. We couldn’t remember if the limber driver told us to turn to the right or the left, but after ten minutes considering we decided to go to the right, and it happened to be right as luck happened.

We next inquired from one of the Norfolks for the 5th Cheshires. We were now hopelessly lost. He couldn’t tell us where the 5th were, but directed us to the 1st. We eventually arrived at the huts where the 1st Cheshires had been only to find they were empty and no one could tell us where the 5th were. At last, absolutely fed up and weary, we decided to get down somewhere and wait until morning. We spotted a covered conveyance on the side of the road and decided to confiscate it for the night. We found it very comfortable inside. There was small flock mattress and a couple of coats inside, so we were fairly comfortable. We got up at dawn and started to find our bearings which we ultimately did at four o’clock in the morning, arriving at our ?? about five o’clock after an experience which I shan’t forget in a hurry.”

“May 20th – A quite day which we needed after our strenuous experience of the night before. Out on fatigue. After digging arrived back about 2 a.m.”

“May 21st – Nothing doing much. Digging party again at night on communication trench. At ?? trench Arrived back at 2 a.m.”

“May 22nd – Went for a hot bath to _______ about 1 mile form our bivouac. We deserved our bath, I can assure you. It was a terrible hot day. I guess we had three baths altogether – one going, one when we got there and one coming back. To crown all we had to go out on fatigue at night and didn’t arrive back until 2 a.m. Sunday.”

“May 23rd (Sunday) – Voluntary church parade. Battalions moved by companies to ______ where the other men had gone to the ______ ??. D Company started about 6 p.m. and arrived there about 12:30. We were billeted about one and half miles outside the town at a farm situated among some beautiful country. Its fine about here and we aught to get our backs up again providing we are not worked too hard. We have had enough work lately.”

“May 24th - Very nice easy day. Having a turn at the rest cure.”

“May 26th – Kit inspection. Making move.”

“May 27th – Short route march about three miles. Pay day once more. First for about 2 months. We had been waiting patiently for the happy event.”

“May 28th – Short route march and foot inspection.”

“May 29th - Route march. Rifle inspection and gas canister inspection. In orders about moving back to ________ on the morrow, Sunday. Rather a shock to us as we thought we were going further down the line.”

“May 30th – Moved away at 2 p.m. Reached ________ about 4pm. Had tea there and then marched to our dear old bivouac, arriving there about ?p.m. We then had to fix the canvas ?? up. Which we did in about half an hour, and then get down for the night.”

“May 31st – Quietly departed from the trenches at _____ arrived there about _____ Relieved the Devons in our old trenches. A company of Kitchener’s Army, the ______were distributed amongst us for instruction in trench work.”

“June 2nd – Very quite time in the trenches. Had a look at a sap, which our Engineers had been making towards the German trenches. A sap is a kind of tunnel made preparatory to ??? up a trench. The difficulty in ????? amount of soil has to be removed. It is really surprising.”

“June 3rd – Four men shot fetching water, ? Fatally. Lieutenant Fraser, D Company, shot in the chest whilst moving wire entanglements in front of the trench.”

“June 4th – News brought up of Lieutenant Fraser’s death from the wounds he received. My chum Corporal Billington, sent to hospital.”

“June 5th – Quiet time in the trenches; nothing doing.”

“June 6th – Still quiet. Some artillery fire on the left. Steve Jellicoe of our platoon shot through the head by a sniper. Died about 1 hours afterwards. I was talking to him at the time. He turned his head to look over the parapet and must have exposed himself too much, and the sniper got him straight through the forehead, the bullet coming out at the crown of the head.”

“June 7th – Quiet still, nothing doing much.”

“June 8th – Our trench No ______ shelled by the enemy’s artillery. Myself and three more chaps had a lucky escape from being injured. We were all sitting in a ______ when a shell came along straight in the centre of the parapet, knocking sand bags on us and literally covering us with dirt. A loop-hole plate was shifted straight over a revetment to the other side of the trench. It was a wonder one of us wasn’t hit. They kept shelling all that day, periodically. They didn’t allow us much rest. Another man of D Company shot dead by a sniper.

“June 9th – A. Pimblott, who had been wounded in the leg about seven weeks before, came out of hospital and arrived in the trench in the early hours of the morning.- I was surprised to see him. I thought he was in England. He is a neighbour of mine in civil life.”

“June 10th – Shell again by enemy’s artillery. About six casualties altogether, mostly in C Company.”

“June 11th – Shelled again. Our artillery returned the fire and made a mess of some of the enemy’s parapets. Our own were smashed in a couple of places, happily without any casualties.”

“June 12th – Another man of my platoon shot through the head by a stray bullet. Died about six hours later. Enemy shelled us again. One man killed and four injured in C Company.”

“June 13th – Rather quite day. Rumours of being relieved. This makes our 16th day in the fire trench platoon of D. Company. I came in for 48 hours for instructions.”

“June 14th – Quiet again. Rumours of being relieved and having a furlough-Tip it!”

“June 15th – Reserve trenches shelled. No casualties. Terrible hot day.”

“June 16th – Heavy bombardment over to the left, towards ________.”

This was the day on which the deceased was fatally wounded.

[C.W.C.G. - Steve Jellicoe as mentioned on the 6th June was with the Cheshire Regiment, Service No 1559 died on the 5th June 1915, aged 20, his parents lived at 25 Railway Rd., Rock Ferry.]

Percy Mills

The Guardian article, 26th June 1915 above, states George’s brother Percy was fighting along side him. Checking the N.A.M.C. we find two medal cards for lads named Percy Mills with the Cheshire Regiment;

1 Percy Mills had the Reg’t. No 12594, Pte. He was also awarded the 15 Star, British and Victory medals. Theatre of War France and the Date of Entry 19/7/15. This lad was discharged in Aug. 1916.

2 Percy Mills has two Reg’t. Nos 2186 & 240479, Pte. He was awarded the 15 Star, British and Victory medals. Theatre of War (1) France and Date of Entry 14/2/15. (The Date of Entry of the 14th Feb. 1915 is basically the same as George Mills, 15th Feb. 1915, accepting the newspaper reports that these two brothers have been fighting together it looks like this Percy Mills is likely to be the brother of George Mills.)

Research Bob Heaton