Petty Officer Albert Edgar Miles
| Date of Birth | c. 1894 |
|---|---|
| Age at Death | 27 |
| Date of Death | 08 June 1921 |
| Service Number | K/17884 |
| Military Service | HMS Pembroke, Royal Navy |
| Merton Address | 7 Cavendish Road |
| Local Memorial | Christ Church, Colliers Wood |
Additional Information
Albert was born on 19 June 1894 in Woolwich, the son of William Thomas and Alice Miles. Albert was a middle child, with at least 10 siblings, including older brothers and sisterd Fred, Alice, William, Esther, Frank, and Sydney, and younger siblings Caroline, John, Lennord, and Hilda. Though Albert, Caroline, and John were born in Woolwich, the family appeared to move back to Erith, Kent, when Albert was about five, and were certainly living there at the time of the 1901 census. His father worked as a general labourer and builder.
Albert worked as a greengrocer’s assistant before enlisting in the Royal Navy on 11 February 1913, at the age of 18, for a 12 year term of service. At the time of enlistment, he was 5’5” tall, and had brown hair, blue eyes, and a fresh complexion.
He served on a number of ships throughout the war, including the St. George (depot ship), Prince Rupert (monitor), Apollo (minelayer), and the HMS Victorious (a repair ship for the Grand Fleet). He survived the war, and carried on fulfilling his term of service.
He married Lily Sarah Fowler of 7 Cavendish Road, Merton at Christ Church, Mitcham on 16 August 1919, and his occupation was listed as a sailor on the HMS Victorious.
Sadly, Albert died less than two years later on 8 June 1921 at the Royal Naval Hospital in Chatham, as a result of appendicitis and general peritonitis. He is buried in Gillingham (Woodlands) Cemetery in Kent.