Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Charles Miller was an adopted son of Esther Thomasina Miller and Compton South Miller. Charles had been adopted during 1901 and was about four years of age then. Esther’s husband died in 1903, when Charles was only six years of age, so she basically raised the boy by herself.

Charles enlisted in the original 20th Battalion during early 1915. He had to have a letter of approval signed by his foster mother to enlist. He was landed on Gallipoli with the Battalion during mid-August 1915. On the 22 September 1915 he was awarded fourteen days field punishment on Gallipoli for being asleep on duty. He served right through until the evacuation of Gallipoli and landed back in Egypt on 9 January 1916.

He landed in France for the Western Front during March 1916 and was killed in action during the 20th Battalion’s first big battle in France at Pozieres. Charles was reported missing on 26 July 1916 and a note in his Red Cross Wounded and Missing file by one of his mates’ states “On 26 July I saw Miller fall in a charge against Pozieres at 4 a.m. Again, on 28 July during another charge I saw him lying in No Mans Land, I am sure that he was dead.”

He was reported missing until his death was confirmed by a court of enquiry held in April 1917. Charlie’s foster mother Esther was devastated at her loss, and wrote many letters to Base Records seeking more information as regards his death, his personal possessions and his medal and award entitlements.

She noted on his Roll of Honour form, “Nineteen months of active service at Gallipoli and France, during which he has not one day off duty for sickness, crime, or any other reason.”

When Base Records asked for detail regarding next of kin, she wrote during 1920, “I beg to state that I adopted the lad legally from the Central Methodist Mission’s Children’s Home on the 20 March 1901; he then being four years of age. Before giving consent to his enlistment I enquired of the late Mrs. Powell, who was the treasurer of the Home at the time of adoption, and through whom the adoption was transacted, if anyone had ever enquired for him. She said no one had, and he was my very own.

My husband died in 1903, and this dear lad was all I had in the world, if you look up his military record, you will understand better what he was to me, and how proud I was of him. Up to the time of his enlistment he believed me to be his mother. I therefore claim to be the only next of kin he had. Yours sincerely Esther T. Miller.”

She wrote to Base Records during 1935 seeking information on when the Villers Bretonneux Memorial would be opening as she going to England during May 1936 and dearly wanted to be at the occasion in France and see her adopted son’s name on the memorial. (It was unveiled on 22 July 1938)

On her husband’s grave at Rookwood Cemetery in Sydney she had the following engraved, “Pvte. 1044, of C. Coy. 20th Batt. An ANZAC. Killed at Poziers. Our beloved Charlie Boy. He died for England.” She also added a 20th Battalion Colour Patch. (White over Green Diamond)

Esther Thomasina Miller passed away in South Australia during 1948.