HE DIED THAT WE MIGHT LIVE: The Death of Private Albert Edward Miller of Highgate, Ontario

A rare find was made today while researching the casualty list for April 1917. During the research process of enumerating and collecting information of all the 18^th Battalion soldiers who died during that important month in the Battalion’s history a unique, an as yet, singular document was found.

Private Albert Edward Miller, reg. no. 226140 joined the C.E.F. October 13, 1915 and eventually was taken on strength by the 18^th Battalion in time to serve at the Battle of Vimy Ridge. Sadly, he was wounded on April 10^, 1917 and succumbed to his wounds on April 15, 1917 after suffering the effects of gas gangrene[i]; then the resultant amputation of his leg on April 12 at a forward medical facility in an attempt to save his life; and then eventually dying from the affects of his wound. His mother, Mrs. Albert Miller of Highgate, Ontario took the action very shortly after the news of her son’s death to make an inquiry at the hospital in which Private Miller died. To date such a letter has not been found. In the case of Private Blue in a previous post, the letters sent to the family were done so probably at the behest of Private Blue. In the case of Mrs. Miller, the transcription of the reply to her query clearly indicates she initiated contact and that, in what appears to be a relatively short order of time, the Officer Commanding of the unit replies with details of the circumstances of death to Mrs. Miller. The letter also gives a representative timeline of the route of treatment of Private Miller. Wounded on the 10^th he would have transferred to the rear to a regimental aid post (R.A.P), then to a casualty clearing station and then a field hospital by April 12. From the field hospital he was transferred, most likely by rail, to Boulogne, a distance of approximately 130 kilometers. Without Private Miller’s service records the exact dates of his medical treatment and travel cannot be accurately determined but we do know that within 5 days of his wounding he was at a General Hospital for treatment and that his condition was felt to be stable enough to warrant his transport to more sophisticated medical facilities in an attempt to save his life.

Colonel Herbert Stanley Birkett[ii] was the commanding officer (O.C.) of No. 3 Canadian General Hospital and the reply to Mrs. Miller’s letter comes from him. It is interesting to note that the O.C. of a large organization that comprised 1,040 beds took the time to respond and it probably reflects on the care and empathy Colonel Birkett had for his patience and their families.

No. 3 Canadian General Hospital, (McGill)
A.P.O.3., B.E.F. France,
17th June 1917.
Mrs. Albert Miller,
Highgate
Kent Co. Ont.

Dear Madam,

I am in receipt of your letter inquiring for particulars of the death of your son, No. 226140, Pte. A.E. Miller of the 18th Bn.

He was wounded on April 10th, sustaining a severe compound fracture of the right thigh. The dreaded gas gangrene set in in the wound, and it was necessary to amputate the thigh. This was done at a hospital near the front on the 12th, and there was not further continuance of the gas gangrene spreading. His general condition was very serious. He had persistent vomiting, and his mind was wandering, periods of restlessness alternating with unconsciousness. There were signs of pneumonia in the right lung. He died at 7.a.m. on the 15th April, and was buried in the Bouloggne [sic] Military Cemetery.

His personal belongings were all forwarded to the Army Headquarters here in France. These are very carefully looked after, and sent to the next of kin, but usually takes some time to reach their destination. Please accept my very sincere sympathy for you in your sad loss.

Yours very truly,

H.S. Birkett Col. A.M.S.
O.C. No. 3 Canadian General Hospital (McGill)

We can see that Private Miller obtained timely and relevant medical care but the vagaries of chance and the state of medical science at that time prevented him from living. His mother’s concern for her son is reflected by her prompt letter and the response of which just over 2 months from the date of her son’s death. There is also a mystery. Upon Private Miller’s attestation his age is listed as 18 and the Canadian Virtual War Memorial list his age at death as 19 years old but the Commonwealth War Graves Commission on the Registers list his age as 17. Was Private Miller under age when he died?

Whatever the case his family loved him and reflected their love in the inscription they chose for his headstone at the Boulogne Eastern Cemetery: HE DIED THAT WE MIGHT LIVE.

[i] Please be advised that this link has pictures of an explicit medical nature. [ii] Please go to the McGill Archives for a more complete biography of this interesting soldier and doctor. The Archives has images that tell a much broader story of this man.