Auction Catalogue

16 & 17 September 2010

Starting at 1:00 PM

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Orders, Decorations and Medals

Washington Mayfair Hotel  London  W1J 5HE

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Lot

№ 1627 x

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17 September 2010

Hammer Price:
£2,200

A Great War ‘Western Front’ M.M. group of three awarded to Private William Miller, 27th Battalion Canadian Infantry, who died of wounds on 17 April 1917

Military Medal, G.V.R. (622891 Pte., 27/Can. Inf.); British War and Victory Medals (622891 Pte., 27-Can. Inf.); Canadian Memorial Cross, G.V.R. (622891 Pte. W. Miller, M.M.); Memorial Plaque (William Miller) good very fine (6) £450-550

M.M. London Gazette 9 July 1917.

Recommendation reads: ‘For conspicuous courage and devotion to duty on April 9th & 10th 1917, at Farbus, this man who was a Company Runner made innumerable trips to Battalion H.Q. under heavy shell fire with important despatches. He also maintained communication with platoons within the Company, making trips under heavy shell fire and sniping. It was only owing to his curage that communication was maintained when other Runners had become casualties. This man did excellent work as a Runner during the Somme offensive.’

William Miller was born in Wick, Scotland on 17 October 1892. As a Carpenter living in Canada, he attested for the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force on 19 April 1915. With the 27th Battalion he served in France/Flanders. On 14 October 1916 he received a gunshot wound to his left knee. Making a successful recovery he returned to his unit. In early April his exploits as a Runner for the Company earned him a Military Medal but being wounded in the thigh he was invalided to England. He died of his wounds at the King George Hospital, London, on 17 April 1917. He was buried in his home town in the Thrumster Burial Ground, Caithnesshire, Scotland. He was the son of John and Jane Miller of Thrumster, Wick. With copied service papers and a ‘XXVII Battalion (City of Winnipeg) bronze cap badge.