2701371 Robert MILLER, 2 Scots Guards: 28/12/1943

Discussion in 'The Brigade of Guards' started by La-de-da-Gunner Graham, Dec 28, 2012.

  1. La-de-da-Gunner Graham

    La-de-da-Gunner Graham Senior Member

    Remembering today:
    Casualty Details | CWGC
    GUARDSMAN ROBERT MILLER
    Service Number: 2701371
    Regiment & Unit: Scots Guards, 2nd Bn.
    Date of Death: Died 28 December 1943
    Buried or commemorated at MINTURNO WAR CEMETERY
    Grave Reference: III, A, 25.
    Location: Italy
    Additional Info: Son of Alexander and Agnes Miller, of Dalkeith, Midlothian.
    Personal Inscription: SOME TIME WE'LL UNDERSTAND

    :poppy: Remembered with honour.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Dec 10, 2020
  2. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    From The Scots Guards 1919-1955, David Erskine, page 189:

    ITALY 1943, SECOND BATTALION

    ( E ) Across the Garigliano

    [27 December]
    The chief duty of the Battalion was to maintain a twenty-four-hour standing patrol at Puntafiume, near the mouth of the river, and just before might night one night this was attacked by a stronger German patrol and forced to withdraw to G Company positions. Lieutenants Sir David Moncrieffe and J.V. Rowe, the latter out under instruction, were wounded, and a Gunner officer and five other ranks were missing.
    A platoon counter-attack was put in about two hours later but failed to dislodge the Germans, and lost Lieutenant I.McC. Tait and two other ranks killed and three other ranks prisoners. This was the basis of a Reuter report which caused some amusement in the Battalion a few days later. "British troops of the Fifth Army are fighting strongly to throw back a powerful German counter-attack launched at the mouth of the Garigliano river. Thrusts were directed agains positions at Puntafiume on the south bank. Fighting is going on in the town." The "town" consisted of four houses!

    Using Geoff's search engine, three men have been identified as 2SG, DOD the same as the officer mentioned and buried at Minturno

    001 MCGHEE JT 2699138 2ND BN 28/12/1943 SCOTS GUARDS
    002 MILLER R 2701371 2ND BN 28/12/1943 SCOTS GUARDS
    003 TAIT IM 176765 2ND BN 28/12/1943 SCOTS GUARDS

    (The roll of honour in the History's appendix A gives Guardsman Miller's date of death as 20/12/1943, but this is more than likely a typo.)
     

Share This Page