Private Oscar Mills

Oscar’s parents' Walter and Fanny (nee Baldwin) had married on 19th January 1880 at All Hallows church, Bromley by Bow, in Tower Hamlets. They first set up home at 70 Homesdale Road in Bromley, Kent but moved around a great deal whilst the number of their children increased.

In Jan 1884 they had four children baptised and were residing at 6 North Street in Clapham. Two further children were born in Battersea, Albert in 1885 and Walter in 1887.

Oscar was born on 6th July 1889 and Baptised in September at St. Saviours Church in Battersea when the family were living in Battersea at 52 Longhedge Street. His father Walter was listed as a Labourer. Another child named Maud was born the following year.

Oscar was enrolled at Raywood Street School, in Battersea Park Road on 28th May 1894. The family were now living at 84 Longhedge Street. The following year on 22 March 1895 Oscar’s sister Maude was also enrolled at the same School, listing the family address as 27 Stewarts Lane, Battersea.

When eldest brother Claude married Hetty Lee on the 5th August 1900 the family address was listed as 15 Brougham Street, Battersea

By 1901 Oscar now aged 12 and six siblings are still at 15 Brougham Street, Battersea. His father Walter is working as a House Painter. Eldest son Claude aged 20 and his wife are also sharing the property along with one other family - so quite a full house.

In the Summer of 1904 when Oscar was aged 15 his mother Fanny died aged 47. The following year Oscar’s father Walter married Julia Caroline Cheese (nee Jackson) a widow aged 40 with five children of her own. They married at St. Saviours Church Battersea on 23rd April 1905.

By 1911 Oscar aged 22 has now left home and is living at number 42 Carpenter Street, Battersea with a family called Leach. He was working as an Iron Building Constructor.

Oscar was aged 25 when war broke out. He enlisted at Wrexham on 1st September 1914 for the Royal Welsh Fusiliers 10th Battalion. His occupation was listed as a stoker and his description was given as 5 feet 1 ¼ tall, weight 126 1bs, chest measurement when fully expanded 34 ½ inches. Sallow complexion, Hazel eyes and brown hair and a scar on left side of neck. Religious denomination was listed as a Roman Catholic.

Oscar was part of the Expeditionary forces with the Royal Welsh Fusiliers 10th Battalion landing in France at Boulogne on 27th September 1915. In 1916 the regiment took part in the Actions of the Bluff and St. Eloi Craters where Oscar was wounded on 2nd January 1916, suffering gunshot wounds to head and right leg and side of chest.

His father Walter was listed as his next of kin living at 48 Russell Street, Battersea. A few days after being shot, Oscar returned home to England and was discharged from the Army on 13th July 1916.

Shortly after being discharged, Oscar married Florence May Parkyn (nee Stevans) a local woman who lived close to the Mills family in Battersea. Florence was a widow with three young children: Ethel, Charles and John. (She had lost her first husband, John, who had died from wounds on 27th September 1915, whilst serving as a Rifleman with the King’s Royal Rifle Corps)

Oscar, Florence and the three children moved into 48 Havelock Terrace. Oscar died two years later on 2nd November 1918 aged just 29. He was buried at Streatham Park Cemetery and is also remembered on the Streatham Park cemetery war memorial.