OUR FAMILY HERO

GEORGE HENRY MILLER

Submitted by Mrs. A. Haggerty

It was 1943, I was only 13 years old and I went to visit my granny. I was so pleased to see my uncle there, home on leave from the R.A.F. He had just been made a Pilot Officer and he looked so smart in his new uniform. We were all so proud of him. Granny had a little cottage in Knottingley and when he came home she made it look lovely. A new tablecloth on the kitchen table, new rug by the fire and she even removed the stockings that were on the table legs to protect them.

His name was George Henry Miller, born in 1918, the youngest of five sons to Henry and Martha Ann Miller. As a boy he attended Weeland Road School, Knottingley and at the age of eleven he won a scholarship to Kings School, Pontefract. After leaving school he was employed by Mr. Dove the chemist.  George was a modest man who loved playing cricket - he played for Knottingley first team.

At the age of 19 he joined the R.A.F. as a gunner and wireless operator. He was soon made a sergeant. He and his crew made 67 flights over enemy territory to Hamburg, Bremen, Kiel amongst other places. For bravery in the services he was awarded the 'Distinguished Flying Medal'.

While home on short leave he received official intimation of this award from Sir Archibald Sinclair, the then Secretary of State for Air. He was 22 years of age at this time and the first man from Knottingley to receive this award. We were all so proud of him. In a local newspaper it said:-

"Knottingley people are very proud that one of its youngest sons should have brought honour to the Town, himself and his family"

He also received a gold watch from the Knottingley Soldiers and Sailors Association.

In February 1943, flying from Ruffed Airfield near York, a crew of six in a DT696 went out on another mission. Sadly their plane crashed near Masticate, Holland. Pilot Officer George Henry Miller D.F.M. was killed along with three other crew members. One crew member was taken prisoner while one survived after taking eight weeks to walk out of enemy territory.

The four who died are buried together in Venlo War Cemetery on the German/Dutch border, which I visited last year.

Sadly our family hero was taken from us at a young age but he will always be remembered. You can see his photograph on the walls of most of his nieces and nephews homes and everyone speaks of him with pride for the Hero that he was.

Mrs. Audrey Haggerty
February 2004

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