Sydney Miller

War Service

Sydney Miller was killed in action on 25 January 1941 age 20. He is recorded on the family headstone in Knottingley Cemetery grave 1387.
Based at RAF St Eval Cornwall and part of Coastal Command, they were frequently attacked by the Luftwaffe. In an attack on 25th January 1941 an air raid shelter took a direct hit from a parachute mine and twenty two personnel were killed, including Sydney Miller. His name is recorded in Book 1 of St Eval Book of Remembrance. in Cornwall
Pontefract & Castleford Express 31 January 1941 p3
“FOUR DAYS AFTER
On Tuesday Mrs Sarah Miller, of The Cottage, Bentley’s Yard, Hill Top, Knottingley, was notified officially that her son, Sidney, who was in the RFA was killed on Saturday, four days after he had been home on leave. He was in his 21st year and had been in the Army since last May. An old scholar of the Weeland Road School, Knottingley, he worked for a time in the Crystal Department of Messrs. Bagley and Co, glass manufacturers, Knottingley. His elder brother is a gunner in the RFA in India, and his father, the late Mr Herbert Lewis Miller, was one of seven brothers who served in the Great War. He too, had been employed by Messrs Bagley and Co.”
[my note: presumably RFA should have read RAF as he was in the Royal Air Force not the Army]
Pontefract & Castleford Express 7 February 1941 p6
“AIRMAN’S FUNERAL
The funeral of Sidney Miller, the younger son of Mrs S Miller of The Cottage, Bentley’s Yard, Hill Top, Knottingley - whose death four days after he had been home on leave was reported in “The Express” on Friday - took place at the Knottingley Cemetery, on Saturday, and was conducted by Capt, H Orton of the Knottingley Corps of the Salvation Army. A Funeral March was played in the Salvation Army Hall by Bandmaster B Houghton; and military acted as bearers.”
Pontefract & Castleford Express 23 January 1942 p7
“ROLL OF HONOUR
In loving memory of a dear son and brother SYDNEY MILLER, Knottingley, who was killed while on duty in the RAF in Cornwall January 10th 1941.
Memories are treasures no one can steal
Death leaves a wound no one can heal
Those who have lost can only tell
The loss of a loved one without a farewell"

Family Life

Sydney was born in the first quarter of 1921 and his birth was registered at Pontefract. He was the son of Sarah E Miller. In the second quarter of 1916 Herbert Miller married Sarah Elizabeth Betchetti, but sadly Herbert died on 8th February 1921 so probably never saw his son.