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, a shoe trade riveter, born 1866 in St. Helena and his wife Mary Ann Miller (nee Cox, married in the 2nd quarter of 1892 in the Hinckley, Leicestershire district), born on the 5th October 1873 in Hinckley, Leicestershire. Horace Wilfrid was born on the 19th March 1893 in Hinckley and was baptised on the 1st December 1897 in St. Luke’s Church, Leicester, his siblings were, Lance Percy, born on the 31st December 1894 and baptised on the 1st December 1897 in St. Luke’s Church, Leicester and Florence Dagmar, born on the 4th January 1897 and baptised on the 1st December 1897 in St. Luke’s Church, Leicester, the latter two siblings were both born in Hinckley, Ivy Regina, born on the 11th December 1898 and baptised on the 27th March 1901 in St. Botolph’s Church, Shepshed and Alma Victoria, born on the 13th February 1901 and baptised on the 27th March 1901 in St. Botolph’s Church, Shepshed, the latter two siblings were both born in Shepshed, Leicestershire, in March 1901 the family home was at Forest Street, Shepshed. In April 1911 Horace was employed as a shoe trade clicker and was residing in the family home at Queen Street, Shepshed, together with his father, a shoe trade riveter, his mother and siblings, Lance a hosiery factory clerk, Florence, a wool trade worker, Ivy, a schoolgirl, Alma, a schoolgirl, Georgina Alexandra, a schoolgirl, born on the 24th February 1903 and baptised on the 21st May 1903 in St. Botolph’s Church, Shepshed, Pauline Wilhelmina, a schoolgirl, born on the 30th July 1905 and baptised on the 27th December 1905 in St. Botolph’s Church, Shepshed, Lawrence Leslie, born on the 21st November 1907 and baptised on the 19th February 1908 in St. Botolph’s Church, Shepshed and Ezra Edward, born on the 27th April 1910 and baptised on the 31st March 1915 in St. Botolph’s Church, Shepshed, the latter four siblings were all born in Shepshed. Horace also had another younger sibling, Albert Ernest, who was born on the 30th January 1913 in Shepshed and was baptised on the 31st March 1915 in St. Botolph’s Church, Shepshed. The family later moved to 27, Oakley Avenue, Loughborough, Leicestershire.
Horace enlisted/attested into the Territorial Force on the 31st January 1913 in Shepshed, and was allotted the service number 1479. He gave his place of birth as Hinckley, Leicestershire and age as 19 year 11 months. His marital status was given as unmarried and his trade or calling as shoe hand, employed by Messrs. Tomlinson and Company. He gave his present address as Queen Street, Shepshed.
His medical examination took place in Loughborough on the 11th February 1913 and recorded his apparent age as 19 years 330 days, that he was 5 feet 8½ inches in height, had a chest measurement of between 32 and 34 inches, his physical development was described as good. He gave his religion as Church of England.
He gave his next of kin as his father, John Miller, mother Mary Ann Miller, bother Percy, Queen Street, Shepshed, Leicestershire.
During his period of military service the following events of note occurred:-
Embodied Service. Pte. 4/8/14.
Embarked. With the 1/5th Bn. Leicestershire Regt. 26/2/15.
Landed. Le Havre. 27/2/15.
Appointed. Paid Lance Corporal. In the Field. 19/6/15.
Died of wounds received in action. In the Field. 10/9/15.
Summary of Service.
Home Service. 31/1/13 – 27/2/15. 2 years 28 days.
France. 28/2/15 – 10/9/15. 195 days.
Total Service. 2 years 223 days.
He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Horace’s surviving service record amounts to a total of fourteen pages, of which only eight pages relate directly to his military service, and these are in extremely poor condition with much of the hand written information in some cases barely legible, damaged or missing entirely, however the content does offer at least a little descriptive insight into some of the events that took place during his period of military service.
Wilfrid’s mother was awarded a weekly Army Pension of five shillings to commence on the 13th April 1916, this sum was increased to twelve shillings and six pence on the 18th January 1921, and was then reduced to five shillings on the 19th July 1921.
The War Diary records: 10 Sep-15 - TRENCHES. Between 12 and 12.30pm bombardment of salient opposite 49 by Field Batteries and Howitzers. Enemy replied with four 6 inch shells over B1. At 4.30pm Lieutenant Colonel C. H. JONES arrived and resumed command of Battalion after 14 weeks absence.
On Wednesday September 15th, 1915 The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. “LEICESTERSHIRE AND THE WAR.” – ROLL OF HONOUR. – Information that Drummer HORACE W. MILLER, of the Shepshed or (G) Company of the 5th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment has been killed in France has been received from Sergeant F. Gilding. Deceased was an enthusiastic member of the Shepshed Company from its start in 1912, and was amongst those who left Shepshed on August 7th, 1914, for further training, and were subsequently drafted to the front. He was the eldest of a large family, who reside in Queen-street, and his father is at present assisting in the erection of huts on Salisbury Plain. Miller was a humorous singer of no mean order, and excelled in coon songs.