Corporal A/1122 James Millman


Millman James 96 445x600


Died of Wounds on Wednesday, 28th July 1915, age 32.
Buried in Grave I. E. 1. at Poperinghe New Military Cemetery, Poperinge, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.

8th Bn., King's Royal Rifle Corps. 41st Brigade of 14th Division.

Born: Tipton, Enlisted: Birmingham, Resident: Birmingham.

First landed France & Flanders, 18th May 1915.
Medal entitlement: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Soldier's Papers at National Archives survived and transcribed.

Not commemorated on any Tipton memorial.
Commemorated here because identified as Tipton on 'Soldiers Died in the Great War'.

Link to Commonwealth War Graves Site: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/139418/


Genealogical Data

Birth of James Millman registered December quarter 1883 in Dudley.

1891 Census
29 Howard Street, Tipton, Staffs.
Ephraim Millman (43, Local Board Labourer, born Tenbury), his wife Amelia (37, born Wootton Bassett), and their 2 children: James (7, Scholar, born Tipton), and Emma (5, Scholar, born Tipton).

1901 Census
9 Heath Street, Birmingham.
John Hadley (52, Foundry Labourer, born West Bromwich), his wife Amelia (49, born Wootton Bassett), his step-son James Millman (17, Tube Drawer, born Great Bridge), and their 2 children: Samuel (17, Foundry Labourer, born Great Bridge), and James (12, born Great Bridge).

1911 Census
Cannot trace James Millman, possibly serving with the Lancers.

Marriage of James Millman and Emily E. Beddow registered September quarter 1912 in Birmingham.


Personal Data

James Millman enlisted on 14th August 1914 at the Town Hall, Birmingham. He was 30 years old, 5 feet 8½ inches tall with a 35-inch chest, weighed 112 pounds. He had a sallow complexion, dark grey eyes and dark hair, he was Church of England and employed as a Tube Drawer. He was married to Emily Elizabeth, had 2 step-children, George and Harold Beddow, and a daughter Doris born in April 1912. In 1915 the family home was 8 back of 20 Florence Street, Holloway Head, Birmingham.

It appears that he had previously served with the Lancers, and was promoted to Corporal before the end of 1914 whilst still in England.

After James's death, his outstanding army pay and allowances amounted to £3/3/3d (3 pounds, 3 shillings and 3 pence); this was paid to his widow, Emily Elizabeth, in March 1916. His War Gratuity was £4/0/0d (4 pounds exactly), this was also paid to his widow in October 1919.


Action resulting in his death

On 19th May 1915 the 14th (Light) Division sailed Folkestone to Boulogne and moved to Locre and from there began instruction under 46th (North Midland) Division in Kemmel sector trenches, arriving in the Ypres Sector in June.

The 8th King's Royal Rifles were in the front line near Sanctuary Wood from 23rd to 29th July 1915 during which time they were intermittently shelled. Four men were killed in action, and James Millman died of wounds in Poperinge on the 28th April, he is buried in Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery. Although of no siginificance to Pte Millman, the Battalion suffered heavilly on 30th July when forced back to Sanctuary Wood to reinforce troops under attack by the Germans, 63 men died.


Newspaper Cuttings

None.