Charles Leonard Miller was born in 1898 in Woodford, Essex (now Greater London), the elder son of Charles James Miller (1870-1931) and Marguerite Miller née Ivimey (1871-1903). His birth was registered in the 2nd quarter of 1898 in the West Ham Registration District, Essex (now Greater London).
He was shown as aged 3 years in the census that was conducted on 31 March 1901. He was living at Fairfield, Broomhill Road, Woodford, with his parents, his maternal aunt, Ada M. Ivimey, aged 32 years, together with a cook, a housemaid and a nurse. His father was recorded as a tailor.
Probate records show that his mother died on 5 February 1903 and that the family lived at 'Langdale', Montall Road, Woodford Green. Probate was granted to his father who was listed as an outfitter and her effects totalled £2,414-5s-8d.
His father was remarried on 17 September 1907 to a widow, Mary Ethelwynne Seager née Webster (1878-1909) in Stockport, Cheshire and they had one child, Marjorie Ethelwynne Miller (1909-1996).
His stepmother died on 18 May 1909 and the following year his father was again remarried to a Grace Smith (1875-1952).
He was described as aged 13 years and attending school on the census return form completed by his father on 2 April 1911, He was living in a ten roomed property at 21 Stanhope Gardens, Highgate, Middlesex (now Greater London), with his father, his second stepmother, his brother Reginald James Miller (1902-1981) who was also shown as attending school and his half-sister Marjorie Ethelwynne Miller, together with a cook and female mother's help. His father listed himself as a master tailor.
His half-sister, Alison Mary Miller, was born on 25 May 1915.
He enlisted in 1913 as a Driver in the Honourable Artillery Company, service number 729. He entered the Egyptian Theatre of War on 24 April 1915. In 1917 his service number was changed to 624174 and he was a Corporal attached to "A" Battery, 19th Brigade, Royal Horse Artillery, when he was killed in action, aged 20 years, on 13 October 1918. His body was , in the Damascus British War Cemetery, Damascus, Syria.
He was posthumously awarded the 1914-1915 Star, the British War Medal 1914-1918 and the Victory Medal.
He is shown as "CHAS LEONARD MILLER" on the Highgate Camp war memorial on the porch outside 107 Swain's Lane, London, N6 and as "C. LEONARD MILLER" on the Highgate United Reform Church war memorial in Pond Square, London, N6. He is also commemorated on the , on the , on the and on the .
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
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