1206556 Gnr. John Miller British Army 177th Bde. Royal Field Artillery from:London (d.30th Oct 1917) Gunner John Miller, 31509 177th Royal Field Artillery was my Great-Grandfather who died whilst serving in Ireland. He is buried in the Curragh Cemetery, just outside Dublin. John was transferred to the 320th Home Service Company Labour Corp at some point and he was serving with them at the time of his death.
I have always been told that John had visited the doctor a number of times complaining of headaches, only to be sent away without further investigation. Sadly, on 30th October 1917, John died whilst on duty and it was discovered that he had suffered a brain haemorrhage.
John's wife Ellen was a strong lady and having just lost her husband and having a young daughter, Kathleen, must have kicked up a bit of a stink as she was taken over to Ireland for John's burial on the Curragh in 1917.
At the bottom of John's headstone, there is the inscription "Always remembered, never forgotten" and he hasn't been. I visited his grave for my 30th birthday in 2000 and plan to go back soon - hopefully, 2017.
I know that the Curragh Barracks were handed back to the Irish in 1922 but feel very sad that the War Graves in the Curragh Cemetery are not tended with the same respect and dedication that I have seen in every other war cemetery (both WWI and WWII) that I have visited. It appears sufficient to chuck a couple of sheep over the wall and leave them to keep the grass under control, but this piece is about John's story.
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