ALFRED CHARLES MILLWARD – WW1 FATALITY

A C Millward Adobe

Alfred Charles Millward

Summary

Alfred Charles Millward (1876 – 1916) – Employed in Olney as a Shoe Laster
Married Lizzie (Eliza) Wooding (1898) and had five children
World War 1 casualty, died 15th September 1916 – The Battle of the Somme

Narrative

Alfred Charles Millward was born in 1876, the eldest of six children born to Alfred J and Mary A Millward. The photograph of the family outside their house in East Street was taken around 1897. The rear of the house faces North in the direction of the ‘nursery’ or football field.

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Top row: Alice Millward, Alfred C Millward, Kate Millward Middle row: Alfred J Millward, John P Millward, Mary A Millward Bottom row: Harry B Millward & Frank Millward

Alfred, like his father and most men in Olney at that time, were employed in the shoe industry. His hobbies are not recorded but it is well known that the Millward family were and are active participants and supporters of Olney Rugby Club.

Alfred married Lizzie (Eliza) Wooding in 1878 and had five children, Nellie born 1899, George born 1901, Elsie born 1905, Kate born 1908 and Frank 1914. Apparently, Alfred never saw his youngest son Frank.

Alfred enlisted at Bedford and joined the 8th Battallion Bedfordshire Regiment as Private 20339. September 15th 1916 saw the beginning of the third phase of the Battle of the Somme in Northern France. The 8th Battalion were part of the 16th Brigade. According to the publication ‘British Campaign in France and Flanders 1916’ by Arthur Conan Doyle, the Brigade moved off at 6.20am on the morning of the 15th September 1916 from Leuze Wood towards the area known as the Quadrilateral towards the German Line, but were stopped by ferocious gun fire and wire. lt would appear that Alfred Charles Millward (my grandfather) was killed somewhere in that small area. His name appears on the memorial at Thiepval on Pier and Face 2 C.

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Thiepval Memorial: Commemorates 72,085 men who died in the Somme Sector up until 20th March 1918

According to the family, Alfred’s widow Lizzie suffered a nervous breakdown soon after Alfred was killed in action. In those days there was very little support available from the State. Later, she did apply in November 1932 and was offered one of the Feoffee houses in Dartmouth Road (No. 3). She lived there happily with her daughter Elsie’s family until she died in 1956.

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Lizzie Millward with two of her daughters Elsie, and her daughter Ann, and Nellie (and Jill the dog)

A couple of the passions of Alfred Charles’s family were rugby union and animals (particularly dogs), as illustrated in the photographs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Check out Alfred Charles Millward, his parents, his children and where he lived in the Olney Family History Search Engine

 

Data collated by Susan Neale  (Grand daughter) – August 2014

 

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