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Radcliffe_M_Captain_2nd_Border_Regiment_Harrow_Roll_Of_Honour_Vol_1

Name:
Miles Radcliffe
 Relationship to Rud of Britain
Birth:
13 OCT 1883 Werneth Park, Oldham
Father:
Henry Miles Radcliffe
Mother:
Emily Bertha Platt
Married:
Dorothy Kathleen Duffin 15 JUL 1913 Paris Church, Parish Of St Andrew's, Droitwich, Wo
Children:
Miles Claude Radcliffe
Born: 13 JAN 1914 Summerlands, Preston Richard, Westmorland
Died: 30 JAN 1986 Clacton-on-Sea, Essex
Death:
12 DEC 1914 Kemmel, Ypres, Belgium, Killed In Action aged 31
Remarks:
In 1891 he was living in Cheltenham with his parents.

He was educated at Cheam Preparatory School followed by Harrow School from 1897 to 1901.

On 13th January 1904 after being a Gentleman Cadet at the Royal Military College he became a Second Lieutenant in the Border Regiment.

He served in South Africa with the Mounted Infantry from 1906 to 1907.

In 1911 he was an officer in the 2nd Batallion Border Regiment based at Headley in Hampshire.

In 1913 he married Kathleen Duffin and they had a child Miles Claude Radcliffe on 13th January 1914.

On 29th October 1914 he was promoted from Lieutenant to Captain in the Border regiment.

He was Killed in action in WW1.
From the 1st Bn. Royal Scots Fusiliers War Diary it states:
12.12.14 - Relieved H.A.C (Honourable Artillery Company) in trenches as before (near Kemmel 8km south west of Ypres). Captain M. Radcliffe, Border Regiment attached to Bn & in charge of machine gun killed in Rt. trench, opposite P.T. 26.

He was shot through the heart by a sniper while returning to a dug-out.

One of his fellow officers wrote: “We are all most sorry about your son; he had done extremely well, and was a very good and gallant officer.”

From CWGC:
Rank: Captain
Date of Death: 12/12/1914
Age: 31
Regiment/Service: Border Regiment 2nd Bn. attd. 1st Bn. Royal Scots (Fusiliers)
Grave Reference Sp. Mem. 2.
Cemetery: KEMMEL CHURCHYARD, Heuvelland West-Vlaanderen, Belgium (8km south west of Ypres)
Additional Information:
Son of Henry Miles and Eva Bertha Radcliffe; husband of Dorothy Kathleen Radcliffe, of "The Laurels" Hull Rd., York.

His grave is marked ‘Known to be buried in this cemetery’ and his personal gravestone inscription reads: “Peace, Perfect Peace’.
In St Thomas’ Church, Crosscrake, a brass memorial was placed in Miles’ memory with the inscription: “In loving memory of Captain Miles Radcliffe, 2nd Battalion Border Regiment, killed in action near Ypres Belgium on Dec. 12th 1914 aged 31. Be thou
faithful unto death and i will give you a crown of life.”

There is a memorial plaque to him at St. George's Memorial Church in Belgium.

Probate Will:
RADCLIFFE Miles of Summerlands Kendal Westmoreland died 12 December 1914 at or near Ypres Belgium. Administration (with Will) London 10 February to Dorothy Kathleen Radcliffe widow. Effects £8807 4s 10d.

== Sources ==

* National Archives
Service record: WO 339/5895
Unit War Diary: 3 DIVISION, 9 INFANTRY BRIGADE: 1 Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers 1914 Aug. - 1916 Mar: WO 95/1432
http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/Details?uri=C4554583

2 Battalion Border Regiment 01 October 1914 - 30 November 1917
WO 95/1655/1

London Gazette
Second Lieutenant: http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/27635/pages/262
Promotion to Captain: http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/29003/pages/10584

Notes kindly provided by Paul Foster, military historian and First World War specialist, from www.remembering1418.com

Photo of memorial courtesy of Barnaby Johnstone Preston :
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/196118650/miles-radcliffe
Miles Radcliffe

War diary entry showing he was killed while in charge of machine gun

Newcastle Journal 18th December 1914 listing him among fallen officers
London Gazette Second Lieutenant

London Gazette promotion to Captain

Newspaper obituary

This memorial plaque to Captain Miles Radcliffe of the 2nd Border Regiment is inside the church of St. Thomas, Crosscrake

Gravestone at Kemmel cemetery in Belgium


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