TORONTO'S SILVER CROSS MOTHER MRS.MILLER

TORONTO'S SILVER CROSS MOTHER 



Over the years Mrs Charlotte Wood of Winnipeg has received much of the publicity surrounding her lost of children during World War One. At one time she claimed to have lost five sons I believe and had seven sons fighting. However Toronto had a mother who suffered similar losses without all the hoopla. Mrs. Margaret Miller was a native of Wick, Caithness, Scotland and married to Captain Alexander Miller December 11, 1874. Together the couple had eleven children between 1875 and 1897: nine sons and two daughters. Nine children survived by December 22, 1896 when Captain Miller succumbed to injuries suffered while piloting the schooner "Ban Righ" from Sunderland to Wick with a load of coal hitting a rogue wave while at sea.

 

First born Alexander Miller born 1875 died as a sailor in Australia in 1895 with two-year William Miller dying in Wick 1897. Otherwise most of the children emigrated to Canada at different times prior to World War One with Margaret following in 1912.

The Miller Family , Wick Scotland about 1892

 "Donald, Angus b. 11 Jan 1877 in Latheron m. 20 Oct 1900 to Caroline Reader in Bury, England d. 15 June 1922 in Prestwich, England. Donald, Angus Miller is buried in Rochdale Cemetery, Rochdale, England, George, Smith (27-Oct-1878 in Latheron, m. 13-Nov-1909 in Swansea, Ontario, Canada, d. 23-Apr-1917 in France, WW1 (Canadian army), David, Angus (b.5-Nov-1880 in Wick, m. 14-Apr-1914 to Annie Louisa CRAWFORD in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada, d. 24-Jan-1974 in Moose Jaw, Sask. Canada), James, Meiklejohn (b. 28-Mar-1883 in Wick, m. 28-Dec-1907 to Jessie MANSON in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, d. 24-Sept-1981 in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada), William, Smith (b. 22-Feb-1885 in Wick, d. 19-Oct-1887 in Wick and is buried with his father), Nigel, Roberton (b. 10-Jan-1887 in Wick, m. 29-Mar-1912 to Christina MILLER d.6-Apr-1916 in France, WW1 (Canadian Army), Marcus, McIvor (b.16-June-1889 in Wick, d. Camp Hughes Hospital, Manitoba, Canada, WW1 (Canadian Army), Angus (b.30-Aug-1891 in Wick, m. 1-Mar-1918 to Elizabeth McCLURE in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, d. 9-Feb-1951 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada (complications from shrapnel in body WW1 (Canadian Army), Christina, Smith (b. 13-Jul-1893 in Wick, m. 14-Aug-1919 to Donald WARES in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada, d. May 1977 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada) and finally Alexina, Kate, Maggie (b. 21-Feb-1897 in Wick (2 months after her father was killed aboard the Ban-Righ at sea), m. 20-Jun-1917 to Douglas, Allan THACKRAY in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, d. 24-Oct-1979 in Victoria, B. C. Canada)." 

George, Angus and Nigel Miller

Private Nigel Roberton Miller, #135795, 19th Battalion 

Nigel Miller, born 1887, a married cooper living in Toronto, enlisted with Toronto's 74th Battalion. He had previously served with British Forces in South Africa. After proceeding overseas with that battalion he was transferred first to the 36th Reserve Battalion then Toronto's 19th Battalion at the front lines February 1916. He died of "gunshot wound chest" at No. 17 Casualty Clearing Station April 6, 1916. Buried in Lyssenthoek Military Cemetery, Belgium. His service record is on-line HERE and he has a full page on the Veteran Affairs Canada Virtual War Memorial HERE

Private George Smith Miller, #135794, 19th Battalion
George Miller, born 1878, a married Toronto Street Railway conductor with 3 small children, enlisted July 27, 1916 with Toronto's 74th Battalion. He also served with British Forces in South Africa. Transferred from the 36th Reserve Battalion to the 19th Battalion in the field. He was "Killed in Action in the trenches S.W. of Vimy April 23, 1917" He has a full page on the Veteran Affairs Canada Virtual War Memorial HERE

Private Marcus Miller, #255796, 210th Battalion
Marcus McIvor Miller, born 1889, had emigrated to Moose Jaw, SK to join older brother, David Angus Miller, born 1880, in farming ventures. He joined the 210th (Frontiersman) Battalion in Moose Jaw. Died of meningitis in Camp Hughes, MB on October 7, 1916. Buried Moose Jaw Cemetery. His page on the Veteran Affairs Canada Virtual War Memorial HERE 
 

Private Angus Miller, #454203, 59th Battalion

Angus Miller, born 1891, had emigrated to Toronto. However on June 14, 1915 he attested in Smith Falls, ON to the 59th Battalion and travelled to England with that unit. He was transferred to a front line Battalion apparently and was severely wounded with shrapnel on July 1, 1916 right side foot, thight, side and shoulder. Operated on in France before being sent to Manchester Hospital.  He was transferred to a hospital in Rochdale because the only brother he had left in Britain was a Donald, Angus Miller, who happened to live there with his family. Angus was there for about a year before he was well enough to come back to Canada. Died of complications from his wounds in Toronto 1952.

Mrs. Maureen Materi has done enormous amount of research, is a granddaughter of Margaret Miller and has a her research and many family photos publisher HERE . This post relies heavily on her information.

Thanks to Marika Pirie for her newpaper clipping from The Toronto Star.