Major-General Austin Timeous Miller CB MC & Bar (28 July 1888 – 16 May 1947) was a

British Army The British Army is the principal Army, land warfare force of the United Kingdom. the British Army comprises 73,847 regular full-time personnel, 4,127 Brigade of Gurkhas, Gurkhas, 25,742 Army Reserve (United Kingdom), volunteer reserve perso ...

officer who served in both of the

world war A world war is an international War, conflict that involves most or all of the world's major powers. Conventionally, the term is reserved for two major international conflicts that occurred during the first half of the 20th century, World War I ...

s. Miller was born in

Bedford Bedford is a market town in Bedfordshire, England. At the 2011 Census, the population was 106,940. Bedford is the county town of Bedfordshire and seat of the Borough of Bedford local government district. Bedford was founded at a ford (crossin ...

Bedfordshire Bedfordshire (; abbreviated ''Beds'') is a Ceremonial County, ceremonial county in the East of England. It is bordered by Northamptonshire to the north, Cambridgeshire to the north-east, Hertfordshire to the south and the south-east, and Buckin ...

, on 28 July 1888. He was the son of Joseph Miller, J.P., of Bedford. He was educated at

Bedford School Bedford School is a 7–18 Single-sex education, boys Public school (United Kingdom), public school in the county town of Bedford in England. Founded in 1552, it is the oldest of four independent schools in Bedford run by the Harpur Trust. Bed ...

and

Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge Gonville and Caius College, commonly known as Caius ( ), is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in Cambridge, England. Founded in 1348 by Edmund Gonville, it is the fourth-oldest of the University of Cambridge's 31 colleges and ...

. He entered the

British Indian Army The Indian Army was the force of British Raj, British India, until Indian Independence Act 1947, national independence in 1947. Formed in 1895 by uniting the three Presidency armies, it was responsible for the defence of both British India and ...

on 28 August 1910 as a second lieutenant in the 10th Duke of Cambridge’s Own Lancers (Hodson’s Horse), and was advanced to

lieutenant A lieutenant ( , ; abbreviated Lt., Lt, LT, Lieut and similar) is a Junior officer, junior commissioned officer rank in the armed forces of many nations, as well as fire services, emergency medical services, Security agency, security services ...

in December 1911. On the outbreak of the

First World War World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

in August 1914 he transferred to the

Sherwood Foresters The Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment) was a line infantry regiment of the British Army in existence for just under 90 years, from 1881 to 1970. In 1970, the regiment was amalgamated with the Worcestershire Regiment to ...

(Notts. & Derby. Regiment). He was appointed

Adjutant Adjutant is a military appointment given to an Officer (armed forces), officer who assists the commanding officer with unit administration, mostly the management of “human resources” in an army unit. The term is used in French-speaking armed ...

and in January 1915 was made a Temporary Captain. Serving with the 1st Battalion he entered the France/Flanders theatre of war on 1 March 1915 and soon after was awarded the M.C. for his

bravery Courage (also called bravery, valour ( British and Commonwealth English), or valor (American English)) is the choice and willingness to confront agony, pain, danger, uncertainty, or intimidation. Valor is courage or bravery, especially in ...

and

leadership Leadership, is defined as the ability of an individual, group, or organization to "", influence, or guide other individuals, teams, or organizations. "Leadership" is a contested term. Specialist literature debates various viewpoints on the co ...

action Action may refer to: * Action (philosophy), something which is done by a person * Action principles the heart of fundamental physics * Action (narrative), a literary mode * Action fiction, a type of genre fiction * Action game, a genre of video gam ...

. He subsequently served as a

brigade major A brigade major was the chief of staff of a brigade in the British Army. They most commonly held the rank of major, although the appointment was also held by captains, and was head of the brigade's "G - Operations and Intelligence" section direct ...

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

, November 1915-February 1917 and as G.S.O.2, February 1917-October 1918. For his services he was given the brevet of

major Major most commonly refers to: * Major (rank), a military rank * Academic major, an academic discipline to which an undergraduate student formally commits * People named Major, including given names, surnames, nicknames * Major and minor in musi ...

in January 1918; was three times mentioned in despatches; awarded a Bar to his M.C. and awarded the French Croix de Guerre. He subsequently served as an instructor at the Staff School, Cambridge and as G.S.O.2 in France and with the Rhine Army until June 1919. After attending the Staff College at Camberley from 1921 to 1922, Miller then held appointments as brigade major in England, with the Rhine Army, and in India. He was promoted Brevet lieutenant-colonel in July 1929 and lieutenant-colonel in January 1936. Appointed C.O. of the 1st Battalion Sherwood Foresters, 1936-37. Promoted to colonel in October 1937, he was appointed G.S.O.1 Northern Command until 31 September 1939. Promoted to acting brigadier on 1 October 1939 and temporary brigadier in March 1940, he was in command of 164 Infantry Brigade, Home Forces until April 1941. Miller also served as A.D.C. to the

King King is a royal title given to a male monarch. A king is an Absolute monarchy, absolute monarch if he holds unrestricted Government, governmental power or exercises full sovereignty over a nation. Conversely, he is a Constitutional monarchy, ...

, February 1940-November 1941. He was appointed D.A.& Q.M.G. Scottish Command, April–May 1941. Promoted to acting major-general in April 1941 and confirmed in that rank in November 1941. At that rank he was in charge of Administration of the Scottish Command until his retirement in 1945. For his wartime services he was appointed a

Companion of the Order of the Bath Companion may refer to: Relationships Currently * Any of several interpersonal relationships such as friend or acquaintance * A domestic partner, akin to a spouse * Sober companion, an addiction treatment coach * Companion (caregiving), a caregi ...

in 1942. Major-General Miller remained in the Regular Army Reserve of Officers until his death on 16 May 1947.

Military awards

The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, C.B. (

Military A military, also known collectively as armed forces, is a heavily armed, highly organized force primarily intended for warfare. Militaries are typically authorized and maintained by a sovereign state, with their members identifiable by a d ...

) Companion’s neck badge; Military Cross, G.V.R., with Second Award Bar; 1914-15 Star (Lieut., Notts. & Derby. R.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Major); Defence and War Medals; France, Croix de Guerre 1914-18 C.B.

London Gazette London is the capital and largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Western Europe, with a population of 14.9 million. London stands on the River Tha ...

11 June 1942. M.C. London Gazette 3 July 1915. ‘When owing to high explosive shells falling for fourteen hours amongst the battalion, a retirement began, he immediately ran along the line under heavy fire, stopped the retirement, and by his coolness and personal example saved the situation.’ Bar to M.C. London Gazette 4 February 1918. M.I.D. London Gazette 1 January 1916; 4 January 1917; 11 December 1917. Croix de Guerre London Gazette 17 December 1917. Military records and relevant gazette copies

References

Bibliography

External links

Generals of World War II
{{DEFAULTSORT:Miller, Austin Timeous 1888 births 1947 deaths Recipients of the Military Cross People educated at Bedford School Alumni of Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge Graduates of the Staff College, Camberley Military personnel from Bedford British Indian Army officers British Army personnel of World War I British Army generals of World War II British Army major generals Companions of the Order of the Bath Sherwood Foresters officers