Reference: RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 6176 – 24 Date of Birth 18/06/1898 @ Sombra Twsp. Lampton County, ON.     The son of John Hugh and Elisa Jane. (nee McCoy) Miller, of Bothwell, ON., brother of Earl John 112092, Douglas Martin, Gordon Cameron 112093 and Wilfred Dewitt 3137223, Basil, Robert Bruce and a sister Doris Jean. Occupation: Farmer. The family moved to Bothwell around 1913 so that Clifford could attend high school, Clifford was listed as a student when he enlisted IODE(P).

Attestation: 21/01/1916 @ London, ON to 70^th Bn. CDP 16/10/1916(P).

 

“Soldier Missing” was the heading in the Bothwell Times of 19 October, 1916. Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Miller of Bothwell received word that their son was missing in action during the “gigantic struggle in the Somme”, No official word had been received  nor would it, his body was never found. BT 19/10/16.

MILLER, CLIFFORD Initials: C Nationality: Canadian Rank: Private Regiment: 5th Canadian Mounted Rifles (Quebec Regiment) Date of Death: 17/09/1916 Service No: 124632 Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Cemetery: VIMY MEMORIAL

Letters give a glimps of a soldiers life, the following does just that. (J. R. Hind)

“Soldier Missing” was the heading in the Bothwell Times of 19 October, 1916. Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Miller of Bothwell received word that their son was missing in action during the “gigantic struggle in the Somme”, No official word had been received  nor would it, his body was never found. BT 19/10/16.

Letters give a glimpse of a soldiers life, the following does just that. (J. R. Hind)

“The Story of Clifford Miller”

Private 5^th Canadian Mounted Rifles.

Killed In Action 17/09/1916

Written by his Niece Gail Moran from his letter to his 15 year old girlfriend.

I am the son of John Huge Miller and Eliza (McCoy) Miller. I was born on June 15, 1897 in Bickford, Sombra Township. There were seven boys and one girl. In 1913 we moved to Bothwell so we could go to high school, but our father kept a farm in Bickford. My two older brothers  Earl and Gordon went to Europe in 1915.

January 24, 1916: I sent a letter to the Students of the 3^rd Form in the Bothwell high School from The Sportsmen Patriotic Association, 229 Dundas Street, Majestic Theatre Building to inform them our vacations had changed and I sincerely hope and feel certain that our mutual interests will not be served. Owing to the press of work to get in order for Overseas in a short time I have not time to write to you individually but have adopted this means of telling you where I am and my feelings toward you all. Your ex-chum and well-wisher. Base Company, 70^th Battalion, Queen’s Park, London, Ontario.

I know it was a funny trick to leave without giving ten days notice, but I left quietly because I wasn’t sure that I would be able to enlist and then you people have a chance to guy me. Well I’ve got my uniform and I believe I look good in it. However you know what Cassius told Brutus about seeing our merits, so I’ll say nothing and ask you for your opinion when we meet again which I hope will be in the near future.

We took our first route march yesterday and here I am in the 91^st regiment barracks at St. Thomas. We marched all the way from Queens Park, London and carried our rifles, overcoats rolled and haversacks. The mud was six inches deep in places. The horses played out pulling a few blankets so you can just “fancy” what the walking was like. My feet are lovely and big to-day. In fact, so big, that I have difficulty in drawing on my shoes. They’re blistered and the heels are rubbed bare. I don’t know what I’ll be like when I hit London tomorrow night.

Personally I didn’t know you were such a wonderful cook. Talking about scalloped potatoes. We five fellows on cook house had to peel a bag of potatoes and scallop them for supper. I take a big potato and cut the peeling off square and cut “the bloody bounder” (that’s real English) and chuck “I’m in the kettle.

There is a Salvation Army man asleep next to me and I saw him on his knees with eyes shut and I tho’t he’s turned into Silas Marner and had a trance, however he recovered and said “My dear boy take my advice and take your difficulties to the Great Power”. I have’nt taken his advice but have signed the petition for prohibition that the Y.M.C.A. passed out to me. And unlike others, I did not sign Ima Hero.

If there is anything you can do to make life interesting for Mother or Jean (his sister), I will stand in your gratitude forever. I may get home on Saturday, but will be my last time in Bothwell if I stay in the 70^th Battalion for we are going overseas soon and men don’t go over the ocean to return. Sounds kind of ghost like but it’s true. As one of the men said the other day when we marched past a funeral on the street “That’s something we’ll never have, a decent burial”. “We’ll all be rolled into a hole together or thrown into the fire”. Please remember there are nearly 2000 soldiers sitting around talking, singing, yelling and smoking and a Pete Hicks said “You’ll preciate we me the difficulty I’m writing under.

Feb 1, 1916 Well you detected I had an attack of the “blues” that I trided to hide. To tell the truth I was feeling might blue when I wrote you last. The excitement of getting things stored away for the night in St. Thomas I lost my rifle. Rifles are pretty precious articles and I was thinking about the $26.00 it would take to replace the rifle. I found it mixed up in my blankets. We have to make our own beds – I wish I had learned at home.

I’m getting to be quite a man. In fact I’ve got something trembling on my upper lip – But I’m going to shave ‘er off before I go to Bothwell, ubet.

Talking about the Salvation Army man keeping me straight! I’m the only man in Base co. who doesn’t smoke and only one of a very few who doesn’t booze. I’ve lost all faith in my S.A. man. He had a fight with another fellow in the cook-house the other night and just about “ate him alive”.

We are supposed to go to Sarnia tomorrow, but they kept us at home to vaccinate us. I expect mine to-morrow. Sympathy?

Here is the 70^th marching song:

“Wash me in the water

That you washed the baby in

And I’ll be whiter

Than the white was on the wall”

Some rhyme eh?

“When you wore a Tulip” and “My house in Tennessee” are the classical favorites. The 70^th sleeps next to the Base Company, they have a foreigner for Band Master. You should hear him talk and see him wriggle his hands. More fun than a dog fight in church.

February 12, 1916 There was a man in “A” Company died of pneumonia this morning so I’d take part in my first military funeral on Tuesday afternoon. Another man took a dose of poison the other night. He didn’t want to go to Europe and be shot by the Germans. We had to take him over to the hospital on a stretcher.

It was kind of funny to hear him talk while he was out of his mind. Haven’t heard yet how he is but I suppose he’ll be turning up his toes soon. I’d rather have someone shoot me than take my own life. However as Sherman said “War is Hell” and he was pretty near right. What do you think?

I was talking to the Belgium the other day about two brothers fighting in Belgium. He says, “I’ve got a wife, three children and to brothers in Belgium somewhere. I don’t know whether they ‘re dead or alive. I haven’t from them in over a year. “A man who can bear up under a suspense like that must have a pretty strong mind. What do you think?

I have been having a most delightful time all afternoon. (we get Saturday afternoon off) There was a new fellow came in this morning and we were breaking him in this afternoon. He’s about the simplest thing standing on two legs. Her are his line of questions – “Do we have to make our beds? Do we get anything we want to eat? Do we have to clean our own buttons? Di we have to salute the officers? Will they say anything if I lose my rifle? Do they give the stuff away over at the Canteen? I nearly died laughing. We told him the Colonel made our beds and hired  negro’s to clean our buttons, and that the officers had to salute us, that we ordered our meals and they sent them up to us and that he might get shot if he lost any of his belongings. I’ll bet his blood is running cold.

I’m on Cook-house tomorrow so I don’t suppose I’ll go to church. Cook-house means setting tables, carrying eats and  carrying eats and washing dishes. I’ve got a midnight pass tonight so guess I’ll go down and see “Charlie Chaplain”.

I arrived back at Barracks about 11 o’clock, and the guard wanted to put me on the Penalty List for being 4 hours behind my leave, but I told him the train was away late, he (good soul) ley me off much to my relief because if I went on CB I’d not get another pass for 28 days. I’d died of pining if I didn’t get another chance to see you sometime soon. I was out on a pass al afternoon to go to the Dentist and while I was going down Dundas  Street I saw a horse coming up Rectory St. in a most awful hurry. I stepped out on the crossing and interrupted his little joy jaunt by grabbing a hold of a line and stopping him. The sleigh was smashed into pieces about the size of sausages. I unhooked the beast and tried to find an owner but no-one seened to want the horse so I turned it in at the lumber yard, and went on my way to the Dentist.

I don’t know if I should tell you the trouble or not because “Uno I Know” that girls like to talk. However, I’ll tell you and trust you not to tell anyone else. We had our final medical examination today and I’ve either got to undergo an operation or be discharged. Now there is no disgrace in an honourable discharge as Medically Unfit but I’d hate to quite the 70^th just when it is beginning to look as if we are going to England but the Dr. very calmly said “You’re no good to us in your present condition and it’s only ten chances to one that the operation will do you any good”. There’d be a lot of fun having an operation and then not getting better. I suppose it would give the Doctors some experience but I don’t know whether that would do me any good or not and I’d just as soon they experiment on someone else. However I go up before Major Butler tomorrow and he’ll decide the matter.

The 70^th Battalion is to be presented with it’s colours on the 17^th of March and according to the preparations being made it is to be a grand Military day. I have been invited to attend the Grand Theatre tomorrow to see the great English drama “The White Feather”. It is supposed to be the most powerful War drama since the war commenced.

Transcribed by J. R. Hind for Gathering Our Heroes.

2014.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Cenotaph	Chatham and Kent County Cenotaph - Chatham
Sources	Chatham Daily Planet (16-10-1916), Commonwealth War Grave Commission, Chatham Daily Planet (04-06-1917), Chatham Daily Planet (27-09-1919), RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 6176 - 24, M. Matt, Gail Miller Moran (niece)
Supplemental Information	Date of Death: 17/09/1916 Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Cemetery: VIMY MEMORIAL

Height	5'6"
Eye Colour	dark
Age	18
Complexion	fair
Hair	dark
Race	white
Birthplace	18/06/1898 @ Sombra Twsp. Lampton County, ON.
Religion	Prebysterian
Last Place of Employment	Student
Marital Status	single
When Enlisted	Jan. 22, 1916
Where Enlisted	London. ON
Next of Kin	Mother: Mrs. Elisa Miller, Bothwell

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