Trooper in the Essex Yeomanry. He died on 13 May 1915,
aged 19, and is commemorated on the
Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Belgium.
Hugh Meilke Miller was born about 1896 in Belleville, Argentina.
His parents were Hugh and Agnes Miller, of San Geronimo, La Cumbra,
F.C.G., N.A., Cordoba, South America.
Just prior to the war, he was living in Epping. His parents were living at
New Farm, Theydon Mount.
At the age of 17 he joined the Essex Yeomanry at Abbey Farm. He was
preparing to return to Argentina when war was declared, so on 14 August
he opted to rejoin his regiment and accompany it to France.
He was killed in action on 13 May 1915 during the Second Battle of Ypres.
The Essex Yeomanry were a mounted regiment, but on this day took part in
the 8th Cavalry Brigade’s attempt to re-occupy previously lost front-line
trenches at Frezenberg Ridge without their horses.
They lost 161 of their number in this action. Trooper Miller was originally
reported as wounded in an account of the day’s action on the front page of
the West Essex Gazette on 22 May 1915.
Other Epping men also took part in this action. Trooper J. Church described
the scene as “awful”. Harry Pegrum was wounded, and George Pegrum
was left behind the lines to look after the horses.
Hugh Miller is also commemorated on the War Memorial at Epping.
Essex Newsman, 11 March 1916
Mr Miller, of New Farm, Theydon Mount, has received intimation from the
Territorial Record Office, that his son, Tpr. Hugh Miller, Essex Yeomanry,
reported wounded and missing after the famous charge on May 13, must now
be presumed to have been killed while crawling back from the trench wounded,
as no further news of him is to hand. Tpr. Miller was 19 years of age.
