Haverhill Roll Of Honour (1914-1919)

MILLS, William Pembroke (known as Pem)

Rifleman, R/21094 2nd Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps Place of Birth: Haverhill Date of Death: Thursday, 17th August, 1916 Killed in Action Memorial: Memorial Theatre of War: & Flanders Age: 19 years

William Pembroke Mills was born early in 1897, to Robert Pembroke Mills and Sarah, nee Buttle. The couple were married in Haverhill in the winter of 1894, and were living at 30, Withersfield Road in 1901. William’s brother, Arthur was born in 1900, and the family was complete.

Robert, known as Pem, was a tailor, and had moved from his birth place of Halesworth, Suffolk to work and live in Haverhill some 5 years before his marriage. He was boarding with Mr & Mrs Charles Millighan at 18, Mill Rd, so may well have been employed at Chauntry Mill. Sadly, Pem died at the early age of 36 years when his sons were just 8 and 5 years old.

By 1911 William was now known to family and friends as Pem like his father. Things must have been hard for the family, but by 1911, now aged 14, he was working as an errand boy, his mother Sarah was working as a cloth and cord machinist, and they all lived at 1, Eden Place Haverhill.

The family were members of the Methodist Church and Pem attended the Sunday school there.

Pem enlisted at Barking, Essex; joining the 2nd Battalion, the King’s Royal Rifle Corps. From his regimental number it is thought that Pem’s enlistment may have been in late 1915 or even early 1916. Whatever the date, Pem found himself in the field in the summer of 1916. The King’s Royal Rifle Corps was part of the 13 divisions of Commonwealth Forces that set out on 1st July 1916 to attack the Germans in the Sector. Records show where the battalion was on dates through July:

11th July : Becourt Wood. Carrying parties in Contalmaison area. 17th July : Contalmaison area. 18th July : In front line West of -le- Petit Wood. 21st July : Contalmaison area. 22nd July : In front line South of Pozieres. 23rd July : Attack on Switch Line. 24th July : Albert.

 Suffolk Family History Society – Haverhill Group Haverhill Roll Of Honour (1914-1919)

By the 14th August they were in Mametz Wood. The battlefield of the First , gives a count of around 44 Woods or Bois (French bois = wood) and 15 Copses. The largest was Mametz Wood at 186 acres and known to the British Expeditionary Force as 'The Queen of the Woods. It was said to be a tasteful collection of limes, oaks, hornbeams, hazel and the occasional beech with brambles and saplings taking over much of the ground cover, due to the lack of maintenance of the woods since the war began in 1914.

The war diary for the 17th August states that ‘the Battallion remained in Mametz Wood, again furnishing working parties. "A" Coy went up to the line in Mill Street but returned when the L N Lancs relieved the Royal Sussex’ (Loyal North Lancs)

According to the CWGC, seven Other Ranks from the Battalion were killed on this day. William Pembroke Mills was one of them.

Sarah was still living at 1, Eden Place, when she received the tragic news that Pem had died at the age of 19 years on 17th August 1916.

The South West Suffolk Echo of 23rd September 1916 reported that:

‘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.’

Rifleman William Pembroke Mills is remembered with honour on the Thiepval Memorial to The Missing of the Somme that was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and unveiled by the Prince of Wales in 1932. (photo courtesy of CWGC)

 Suffolk Family History Society – Haverhill Group Haverhill Roll Of Honour (1914-1919)

On the day of the dedication of the Haverhill War Memorial, a wreath was sent bearing the inscription:

‘In loving memory of dear Pem, killed in action, August 17th 1916, Mother and Arthur.’

Pem is also remembered at the Methodist Church on their memorial.

There was a bronze tablet, provided by the Haverhill and District Sunday School Union, which read:

‘In Memory of Pem Mills, Killed in action in France August 17th 1916’

Unfortunately the SSU plaque appears to have been lost.

Pem was awarded both the British and Victory Medals.

 Suffolk Family History Society – Haverhill Group