Reginald Harry MILES (1885–1917)
Reginald Harry Miles was born in Headington in 1885, the son of Harry Miles (baptised at Cann, near Shaftesbury, Dorset on 1 August 1862) and Lucy Draper (born in Headington and baptised at St Andrew’s Church on 29 July 1866).
His parents were married (apparently in haste) on 10 August 1885 and had the following children:
- Reginald Harry Miles (born in New Headington on 22 December 1885 and baptised at St Andrew’s Church on 31 January 1886)
- William Miles (born in New Headington on 12 February 1888 and baptised at St Andrew’s Church on 8 April 1888)
- Lucy Miles (born in New Headington on 6 March 1890 and privately baptised on 9 April 1890); died aged 5 weeks and buried at Headington Cemetery on 15 April 1890
- Frank Miles (born in New Headington in 1891 and baptised at St Andrew’s Church on 12 April 1891)
- Arthur Miles (born in New Headington on 21 April 1893 and baptised at St Andrew’s Church on 18 June 1893)
- Edith Miles (born in New Headington on 30 July 1895 and baptised at St Andrew’s Church on 15 September 1895)
- Edwin Miles (born in New Headington on 12 March 1898 and baptised at St Andrew’s Church on 24 April 1898).
At the time of the 1881 census Reginald’s father, Harry Miles, was 18 and working as a gardener, lodging in a house in Puddletown, Dorset. His mother, Lucy Draper, was 14 and living with her laundress mother and younger brother in New High Street.
The couple settled in New Headington after their marriage in 1885, and at the time Lucy was baptised in 1890 he was still working as a gardener. Then the prospects of Reginald’s father suddenly improved: the 1891 census shows him as a carrier and coal merchant who employed others, living at 27 Bateman Street (then called East Road) with his wife and Reginald (5), William (3), and Frank (1 month).
By 1901 they had moved to New High Street (just to the south of Bateman Street): their house was probably “The Limes” (now No. 41, which was definitely their address in 1917). Reginald’s father operated from home as a carrier and coal merchant. Reginald (15) was now working for his father) as a coal merchant’s porter, and his five younger siblings would still have been at school.
In 1911 Reginald (25) and his father were still in the coal business; Frank (20) was a grocer’s assistant; Arthur (17) was a gardener; Edith (15) had no occupation; and Edwin (13) was still at school.
In the First World War Reginald Harry Miles served as a Private in the 1st/7th Battalion of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment. He was killed in action at the Somme in France at the age of 31 on 27 March 1917 (Service No. 266899) and was buried at the Tincourt New British Cemetery (IX. A. 12). He is listed on the Roll of Honour of All Saints’ Church, Highfield.
Postscript
Reginald’s parents
- Harry Miles was last listed as a coal merchant in Kelly’s Directory in 1916. He was described as a retired coal merchant when died five years later at the age of 58 at his house in New High Street, and was buried in Headington Cemetery on 21 February 1921.
- Mrs Lucy Miles lived as a widow at The Limes, 41 New High Street. She died at the age of 67 in 1933 (death registered third quarter in Oxford District).
Reginald’s siblings
- William Miles (born 1888) married Evelyn Adelaide Busby at All Saints’ Church on 14 July 1917. Their son David W. Miles was born in the Headington registration district in 1926 (registered second quarter).
- Frank Miles (born 1891) married Ada Adelaide Annie Jacobs at All Saints Church on 15 January 1916. Frank, then a private in the A.D.C., was living at home at The Limes and Ada lived in Portland Villa, Windmill Road. Their daughter Peggy Miles was born in the Headington registration district in 1923 (registered second quarter).