L/Cpl 50785 Charles Lewis Milton

• Age: 20
• From: Aldershot
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Sunday 9th February 1919
• Commemorated at: Archangel Allied Cemetery
  Panel Ref: Sp Mem B98

Charles Lewis Milton was born in 1899 in Aldershot, the eldest of four children born to Charles Lewis Milton and his wife Mary (nee Fisher) in North Camp, Aldershot. At that time, Charles Lewis senior was a serving soldier having enlisted on 20^th August 1889 as Private 2948 in the North Lancashire Regiment. Born in Deanchurch, Devon, Charles senior gave his age as 18 years, his occupation as engine cleaner and declared that he was currently serving with 3^rd Lancashire Volunteer Battalion. He was a Wesleyan by religion. Between enlistment and his discharge on completion of his engagement on 31^st July 1902, he served in the East Indies, Ceylon and South Africa, where he earned the South Africa medals for 1900, 1901 and 1902 with clasps for Cape Colony, Orange Free State and Transvaal. His discharge papers describe him as being of exemplary character and show that his declared address on discharge would be 4, Jubilee Terrace, Whittington, near Preston.

The 1901 Census shows Mary Milton, 25 years born Kent living in Jubilee Terrace with her two young children – Charles, 2 years, and Margaret, 1 year. They were living with Mary’s parents – her father, John, is said to be an “Army and Asylum pensioner”. Mary and Charles had two more children – Reginald born 12th April 1893 in Goosnargh and Joseph, born 8th November 1906 in Whittington, both Lancashire.

In 1911, Charles Lewis Milton senior, now 39 years old, shows his occupation as “Asylum attendant”, and he and Mary with their four children live in Comra Terrace, Whittington. Charles junior was at this time only 13 years old but at some stage after the outbreak of war he enlisted in the King’s Liverpool Regiment.

He was awarded only the BWM and VM indicating, as would be expected in view of his age, that he enlisted quite late. He was originally posted to the 2/6th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 50785 and was transferred to the 17^th Battalion  Battalion with the same service number. Sadly Charles was amongst those killed on 09^th February 1919 in Russia. 

Graham Maddocks describes how Charles, together with his fellow Pals; 381327 Private Charles Corlett; 114144 Private John Roberts; 114116 Private John Kenworthy; 18619 Private Cyril Maher; 29664 Private William McDonough; and 114191 Corporal Albert Wright; was killed. By early February 1919, the Bolshevik presence in the area of Seletskoe was growing steadily stronger and at 4.30am on 09^th February 1919 they opened up a fierce and sudden artillery bombardment on both flanks of the 17^th Battalion’s forward blockhouse positions and succeeded in cutting their communications with the rear. The Bolsheviks then attacked with infantry and although repulsed with considerable losses on the left flank, they eventually overran the right flank blockhouse position after a fierce fight and killed all its occupants except Private Roberts, whom they captured but later murdered.

A survivor of the Russian campaign, Private J. Grogan, 17^th KLR, described to Maddocks how he went with others to to check on Church Post, the right hand blockhouse attacked, as HQ was unable to contact them by telephone.

“When we found them they were dead. They’d all been dragged out and murdered”.

Charles and his colleagues were all buried in Seletscoe Cemetery.

He is now commemortated on a Special Memorial at Archangel Allied Cemetery.

During both world wars, Archangel was one of the ports through which the Allies assisted Russia with supplies and munitions. The cemetery was begun immediately after the occupation of the town in August 1918 by the Allied force sent to support the Soviet Russian Government against potential threat from German occupied Finland and other local sources. It was used by No.85 General Hospital, No.53 Stationary Hospital, No.82 Casualty Clearing Station, HM Hospital Ship 'Kalyan' and other Allied hospitals. 

ARCHANGEL ALLIED CEMETERY contains 224 burials and commemorations of the First World War, including special memorials to 140 officers and men with known burials in cemeteries elsewhere in northern Russia. Two of the burials are unidentified. The cemetery also contains 7 Second World War burials. The ARCHANGEL MEMORIAL, which consists of panels fixed into the east wall of the cemetery, commemorates 219 British officers and men who died during the north Russian campaign and whose graves are not known.

Two local newspapers reported on 24th February 1919:

GOOSNARGH SOLDIER KILLED IN RUSSIA

Lance. Corpl. Charles Lewis Milton (20), King's (Liverpool) Regiment of Goosnargh, was killed in action in North Russia on February 9th. He enlisted in 1915, fought with the King's Liverpool Rifles in France, was afterwards appointed Lewis Gun instructor to the 17th Liverpool's, and went to North Russia last September.

KILLED IN ACTION

MILTON-Killed in action in North Russia, February 9th, 1919. Lance-Corporal Charles Lewis Milton, B Co 17th Battalion, King's Liverpool Regiment, aged 20 years. -- Deeply regretted by his Father, Mother, Sisters and Brothers, Clarence Cottage, Goosnargh.

Charles is also commemorated on the War Memorial at St Mary the Virgin Church at Goosnargh, Preston. 

The Soldiers Effects Register shows that monies owed to him were sent to his mother, Mary, as were his medals.