MILLS, William Pembroke


No.R/21094, Rifleman, William Pembroke MILLS
Aged 19


2nd Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps
Killed in Action on Thursday, 17th August 1916


William Pembroke MILLS was born in Haverhill (Risbridge Q1-1897 4A:765), son of Robert Pembroke and Sarah MILLS (née BUTTLE).

Like his father before him, he was generally known as "Pem" Mills, after their middle name.

1901 census...Aged 4, he was at 30 Withersfield Road, Haverhill with his father Pembroke MILLS [32] a tailor born Halesworth; his mother Sarah [29] and brother Arthur [1]. All except his father were born in Haverhill.

His father died in 1905, aged 36.

1911 census...Aged 14, as Pembroke Mills, an errand boy, he was at 1 Eden Place, Haverhill with his wiowed mother (machinist) and brother Arthur.

A Methodist family and a member of the Sunday School there would have been a bronze wreath in his memory inscribed "PEM MILLS, Killed in Action, France, Aug.17th 1916". Sadly this seems to have been lost.



The South West Suffolk Echo of 23rd September 1916 reported :-
HAVERHILL RIFLEMAN KILLED
"Mrs. Mills, of 1, Eden Place, has been officially informed of the death of her son, Rifleman P. Mills, who was killed in action on 17th. August. He was 19 years of age, and much sympathy is felt for his relatives."


He enlisted in Barking.

The war diary has:-
"17 - The Battn remained in MAMETZ WOOD, again furnishing working parties. Sergt Crosskey, an excellent instructor, was killed on this fatigue, Cpls Jarman and ? wounded. "A" Coy went up to the line in MILL STREET but returned when the L N Lancs relieved the Royal Sussex".


It does seem strange that 3 OR casualties are mentioned by name, but 7 were killed that day according to CWGC.




William Mills is commemorated on the Thiepval memorial, pier/face 13A/13B
and on the Haverhill Methodist Church plaque

click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details


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