2.LIEUT W.E.A.MILWARD E.LAN.R. (on star)
LIEUT W.E.A.MILWARD (on pair)
ACF. W.E.A.MILWARD (on Africa Service Medal)
1953 EiiR Coronation Medal (unnamed as issued)
William Edward Arnold Milward
Born Kerksdorp, Transvaal, South Africa 20/2/1896
Son of Rev W.B.Milward of 144 Redlam, Witton, Blackburn, Lancashire
Educated at Kingswood School, Lansdown Road, Bath
Then studied at University of London, where he was a member of the Officer Training Corps & Manchester University Graduated with a B.Sc.
Commissioned 2nd Lieutenant, East Lancashire Regiment 1914
To France 14/10/15 & served with 7th East Lancashire Regiment
Wounded in his left shoulder on the Somme at La Boisselle 5/7/16 & returned to Blighty on Hospital Ship 'Denis' 18/7/16
Went back to the Western Front in August 1917 but then suffered a Gun Shot Wounded to his chest 22/9/17 & was invalided to Blighty
After recovering he transferred to 1st East Lancashire Regiment & returned to France
Taken Prisoner of War near Steenwerck, east of Armentieres. As darkness fell on 10/4/18 he collected 15 stragglers along the Le Seau-Steenwerck Road & was making his way to the front: "I pushed the man in front of me, telling him to move on. I was amazed to find that we had walked into an ambush. The Germans had got between us & the position we were making for and the man I had pushed was a German, who promptly levelled his rifle at my head"
Repatriated 27/11/18 & returned to the UK 3/12/18
See confidential 'Exoneration Statement' account of his capture, dated 17/12/18
His name appears on the 'Exonerated Officers List Q'
& exoneration is recorded in his Officers Papers:
Post-war his permanent address was Dalton Hall, Victoria Park, Manchester
Elected A.M.I.M.E. (Associate Member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineer) in 1924 as Assistant Engineer, South African Railways Construction, living in Natal
Served in the Active Citizen Force, South African during WW2
Died at sea as a passenger onboard RMS 'Pendennis Castle' 28/5/61
With copy of his MIC, London Gazette promotions & 53pp full colour Digital File of his Officers Papers (Ref: WO 339/36969) plus supporting research
Condition: GVF
