Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of John Miller, born 1853 in Bottesford, Leicestershire and his wife Mary Miller (nee Worthington, married in the 2nd quarter of 1877 in the Grantham, Lincolnshire district), born 1861 in Broughton, Nottinghamshire, Clifford was born in the 2nd quarter of 1888 in Bottesford, in April 1891 Clifford was residing at Norman Street, Ilkeston, Nottinghamshire together with his mother, this being the family home of his maternal Aunt, Annie Burchell, born 1854 in Broughton and her husband, George Burchell, a general labourer, born 1854 in Nottinghamshire and Clifford’s cousins, Ernest Henry Burchell, a general labourer, born 1877 and John William Burchell, a schoolboy, born 1879, the latter two cousins were both born in Ilkeston, Derbyshire, his father, a general labourer was residing in the family home at High Street, Bottesford together with Clifford’s siblings, William, a butchers apprentice, born 1878 and Frank Worthington, born 1882, both siblings were born in Bottesford. In March 1901 Clifford was residing in the family home at 17, High Street, Bottesford, together with his father, a farm horseman, and his mother. In April 1911 Clifford was absent from the family home at 2, Riverside, Bottesford, residing there was his father, a farm shepherd and his mother. Clifford first entered the theatre of war in France on the 27th August 1915. He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War and Victory medals.
The War Diary records: 1 Jul-16 – In the Field. Battalion joined part of the attack near OVILLERS. Return of casualties is beneath attached.
Account of the part taken by 11th Service Battalion The Sherwood Foresters in the operations of 1st July 1916.
The Battalion took over the 70th Brigade sector on the evening of the 26th June, being relieved on the following evening when the Brigade took up the final position of assembly.
Owing to the attack being postponed 48 hours the Battalion again took over the front line on the evening of the 28th and held the sector until position of assembly was taken up a second time on the evening of the 30th June.
During this time our casualties were comparatively slight, although we were unfortunate in losing 3 officers including the Medical Officer wounded, and a platoon Sgt.
At 7.45 am on the morning of the attack, 1st July, a message was received that the German First Line was taken, and shortly after the Battalion was ordered to take over our front line vacated by the 9th York and Lancaster Regiment. This was done independently by Companies by pre arranged routes, under fairly heavy shrapnel fire.
It had been arranged prior to the assault that the left Company 1st wave was to file straight out of a sap and occupy a bank about 70 yards in front of our own front line. After considerable difficulty owing to the congestion of wounded in the sap an attempt to do this was made. A very heavy machine gun fire was brought to bear on this wave from the left flank and the enemy front line which had apparently been re-occupied by use of underground galleries from the enemy 2nd line after the assaulting Battalion had passed over. The same fire was directed on the remainder of the first wave when they attempted to advance from our front line.
The 2nd wave, led by Major G. H. W. BERNAL, D.S.O., second in command, then pushed forward in support hoping to carry forward the 1st wave.
Casualties along the whole line were very heavy, and a general attempt was made to crawl forward under intense machine gun and shrapnel fire, any available cover being made use of.
Headquarters, led by Lieutenant Colonel H. F. WATSON, D.S.O., the Commanding Officer, then advanced, only Headquarters Bombers being left to hold our trenches.
Lieutenant Colonel WATSON walking diagonally across the front collecting men as he went gave a fresh impetus to the advance by his personal example, but the advance died out before the 1st line was reached Colonel WATSON himself and other Headquarters Officers being wounded.
Another attempt to reach the German trenches by the sunken road on the right flank was made by about 50 men under Captain C. E. HUDSON, including the Battalion Bombers and details of other units collected in our line. This attempt was brought to a standstill by heavy frontal and flank fire as they came over the brow of the hill in the last 80 yards.
The casualties sustained by the Battalion during the day amounted to 21 Officers and 508 N.C.O.’s and men.
The strength of the Battalion on entering the trenches on the 26th June was 27 Officers and 710 men.
Signed N. Swinhoe Phelan, Major
Commanding 11th (Service) Battalion
THE SHERWOOD FORESTERS
5.7.16.
CASUALTIES IN ACTION JULY 1ST 1916.
WOUNDED.
Lieutenant Colonel H. F. Watson, D.S.O.
Major G. H. W. Bernal, D.S.O.
Captain G. B. Fyldes, (Adjutant)
Captain L. R. Halford
Captain H. C. Watts
Captain H. S. Harris
Lieutenant J. C. Harrison
Lieutenant E. Russell (believed killed)
2nd Lieutenant W. E. R. Short
2nd Lieutenant L. G. Humphrys
2nd Lieutenant G. C. M. Jackson
2nd Lieutenant J. R. Byers
2nd Lieutenant R. W. Clarke
2nd Lieutenant H. C. M. Manistry
2nd Lieutenant E. H. Brittain
2nd Lieutenant W. A. Davis (Wounded and Missing)
2nd Lieutenant S. Longhurst (Wounded and Missing)
2nd Lieutenant C. B. Tomlinson (Wounded and Missing)
2nd Lieutenant S. C. Carter (Died of wounds 3.8.16)
Other Ranks 499 in killed, wounded, missing, 19 of which were “To Duty.”
On Friday August 4th 1916 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “DISTRICT WAR ITEMS.” – BOTTESFORD SOLDIER KILLED. Pte. Clifford Miller, of the Sherwood Foresters, who was killed in action, was the youngest son of Mr. John Miller, of Bottesford, and was 28 years of age. In conveying the news of his death, his Company officer wrote:- “Everyone in his platoon spoke well of him, and I, his officer, found him do his duty well, and the blow has been a great one to me.” Pte. Miller gave up a good situation to join Kitchener’s Army, and had been in France nearly a year, serving in the same Battalion as the late Lieut. Vincent-Jackson, son of the Rector of Bottesford.