Name
Albert Edward Miles
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
01/07/1916
21
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
L/14421
Duke of Cambridge’s Own (Middlesex Regiment)
2nd Bn.
"B" Coy.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star, British War and Victory Medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Pier and Face 12 D and 13 B.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
St Mark’s Church Plaque, Colney Heath, Not on the St Albans memorials, We are not aware of any memorial in Sleapshyde
Pre War
He was born in Sleaps Hyde, Hertfordshire and lived in the third cottage away from The Plough PH at Sleaps Hyde (1901 and 1911). In the 1911 census he was recorded as an office boy at the St Albans Water Works office on Holywell Hill. His parents were Frederick & Mary Elizabeth Miles (nee Keeling).
Albert was born on 10th February 1894 and baptised at St Mark’s Church just over a year later on 10th April 1895. According to the 1901 census Albert was one of six children, four sons: Herbert (13), Frederick (9), Albert (6) and Charles (2) and two daughters: Annie (11) and Louisa (4). It is also apparent that Albert’s mother had been married previously, as the 1901 census shows an additional child called Alfred Keeting - listed as “wife’s son” and who was eighteen. The 1911 census shows that the family were still living in the same house in Sleapshyde, but of the siblings only Herbert (23), Frederick (19), Albert (16), Louisa (14) and Charles (12) were living there with their parents. Albert’s brother, Charles Miles, was born on 26th August 1898 and attended Colney Heath School from 17th March 1902 to 30th July 1912.
He was number 3 on the original school admissions register.
Wartime Service
Having enlisted in the Middlesex Regiment, Albert was sent to France on 7th November 1914.
Albert died on the first day of the Somme along with almost 20,000 other men.
Additional Information
Albert’s father, Frederick died on January 17th 1931 aged 74 and his mother Mary Elizabeth on March 14th 1930 aged 72. Both are buried in the new graveyard at St Mark’s Church, Colney Heath. Albert’s brother Charles Joseph Miles passed away on 24th September 1936, aged 38 and is buried in the same graveyard.
Acknowledgments
Graham Clark – World War One – The Fallen of London Colney, Grace Clark, Jonty Wild
