Somme Battlefields Forum

[Brian Talmer]

Hi if I can help
My interest is in The Oxford And Bucks Light Infantry on thre Somme
And inparticular in The 1st/1st Bucks Bn and have got copies the Diaries from 30th March 1915 to31st October 1917

Brian

[dldwiggins]

I am new to this forum (and any forums) but would like to know more about the Ox and Bucks on the Somme.

Is there record of a Lt or Capt Geoffry Christie-Miller serving there?

Any info would be appreciated.

Late in 1918 as acting Lt. Colonel (attached to the2/5 Glosters) he got a DSO and sometime previously he got an MC. Maybe on the Somme?

All my thanks.
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DavidD

[A Co, 27th Bn.]

David

Here's What the London Gazette has showing on Geoffrey Christie Miller.

16th March, 1916.
The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry
Captain Geoffrey Christie Miller to be Adjutant, vice Captain (temporary Major) Robert W. Harling. Dated 29th April, 1915. (I Believe this is a missprint for 1916)

16th May, 1916
Oxford and Bucks. L.I.
Capt G. Christie-Miller to be temp. Maj. with precedence as from 3. Mar. 1916, but without pay and allowances of that rank prior to 17 May 1916

16th June, 1917.
TERRITORIAL FORCE
INFANTRY
Oxford and Bucks. Light Infantry
Capt. (temp.) (temp. Maj) G Christie-Miller to be Capt. (temp. Maj.), with precedence as from 5th Aug. 1914. 17th June 1917.

Capt. (temp. Maj.) G Christie-Miller relinquishes the temp. rank of Maj.(another missprint ? should read 'temp. rank of Capt) 17th June 1917

2nd August, 1917.
Oxford & Bucks. L.I.- Capt. G. Christie Miller to be actg. Maj. whilst empld. as Maj. on Hd.-Qrs. 17th June 1917

17th June 1918.
Gloucestershire Regt.
Capt. (actg. Maj.) g. Christie-Miller, M.C., Ox & Bucks. L.I., retains actg. rank of Maj. whilst empld. as 2nd in Command. 8th Apr. 1918.

8th March 1919.
AWARDED THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE ORDER.
Capt. (A./Lt.-Col.) Geoffrey Christie Miller, M.C., Bucks. Bn., Oxf. & Bucks. L.I., attd. 2/5th Bn. Glouc. R.

15th. July 1919.
War Office,
15th July, 1919

The KING has been graciously pleased to confer the Territorial Decoration upon the undermentioned Officers of the Territorial Force who have been duly recommended for the same under the terms of the Royal Warrant dated 17th. August, 1908, as modified by the Royal Warrant dated 11th. November, 1918:-

Officers of the Territorial Force who are eligible and recommended for the Territorial Decoration.

Yeomanry.
Bucks. Battalion, Oxford & Bucks. Light Infantry.-
Capt. (A./Lieut. Col.) Geoffrey Christie -Miller, D.S.O. , M.C.

Citation for The Award of The D.S.O.
[London Gazette 4th October 1919

Capt. (A./Lt.-Col.) Geoffrey Christie- Miller, M.C., Bucks. Bn., Oxf. & Bucks. L.I., T.F., Attd. 2/5th Bn, Glou Reg.
On 30th September and 1st October 1918, his battalion was engaged in operations south of Fleurbaix. He reconnoitered the ground beforehand, established his headquarters far foward, and maintained it there for two days under continuous shelling. The sucessful issue of the fighting was due to his personal control and fine example of indifference to danger. He continued to command his battalion after being wounded.

This is all I can glean at present from the London Gazette as the search engine is notoriously fickle. If I get anything else I will post it here

Ian[b]

[dldwiggins]

Ian-

Thanks so much. The Gloucestershire Regiment has the info about the DSO but I can not find out anything about the MC and did not know about the TD.

Yesterday I found Christie-Miller's Medal Index Cards at the Nat'l Archive and there is one that notates a MID (Mentioned in Dispatches) in the LG May 25th 1917. This is from Haig's dispatch of April 9th. This was a huge list (the LG published it over six supplements) with bunches of Ox and Bucks LI and loads of others. Must have been a big battle.

Apparently (from the MIC) he went to France in May 1916. I think the Buckinghamshire Battalion of the Ox and Bucks was in reserve at the Beaumont Hamel and Serre part of the Somme and may have been held back when that attack failed.
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DavidD

[A Co, 27th Bn.]

David,
Given the vaguaries of the London Gazette Search Engine and the propensity for occasionally misspelling names I poked about among the M.C. citations and found the following citation published on 14th November 1916.

Temp. Lt. Gerald Cedar Miller, Oxf. & Bucks. L.I.
For conspicous gallantry in action. He fought his machine guns with great courage and skill, rendering most valuable services.

I am not saying that this is your man , just that the initials are the same and the last part of the name is the same, as is the regiment.
You realy need to go to Kew and pull his service record to be sure at all.

Ian

[dldwiggins]

Thanks Ian. Again.

It's a little far from my home in Los Angeles to Kew (though it would be nice. . . ) but I get over fairly often and will make it a destination.

Thinklng over the April 9th MID I would guess that it refers to the Battle of Arras.

I will keep searching.
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DavidD