Description
Object description
Wooden cross inscribed with the deceased's name.
Physical description
Wooden cross (L 67.6cm x W 53.8cm x D 3.3cm) held together by nails. The cross bears a stencilled painted inscription on front: '43101 GNR MILLER W B/190 R.F.A. KILLED IN ACTION -2-4-18'; a metal tag at the centre bears the embossed initials 'G.R.U.' (Graves Registration Unit). Nailed to the back of the cross are (Gunner Miller's identity?) tags, marked respectively 'A3 101. GUNR. R.W.MILLER','B/190. BDE. R.F.A' and '04-18'. Also fitted at the back of the cross is a metal loop (suggesting that that the cross had been previously attached to some sort of fitting).
Label
Wooden cross from the grave of Gunner Reginald William Miller of 190th Brigade Headquarters, Royal Field Artillery, who was killed in action on the 2 April 1918. This was replaced after the war by an inscribed headstone provided by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Nearly 600,000 graves from the First World War and memorials to more than 500,000 missing servicemen are still maintained by the Commission, which was established by Royal Charter in May 1917.
Gunner Miller was the son of Mr H W Miller and Mrs A E Miller of 24 Greyswood Street, Streatham, London. He is buried in Bienvillers Military Cemetery (details from the CWGC website).
History note
A museum label for the cross reads: 'Wooden cross from the grave of Gunner Reginald William Miller of 190th Brigade Headquarters, Royal Field Artillery, who was killed in action on the 2 April 1918. This was replaced after the war by an inscribed headstone provided by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Nearly 600,000 graves from the First World War and memorials to more than 500,000 missing servicemen are still maintained by the Commission, which was established by Royal Charter in May 1917'.
History note
Original Graves Registration Unit (GRU) grave cross which marked the place of burial of (43101) Gunner Reginald William Miller (190th Brigade H.Q, Royal Field Artillery), who was killed in action on 2 April 1918. The cross which was improvised from fence wood is complete with the deceased's stencilled name and metal strip number tag. At the time of his death Gunner Miller was aged 19. His remains are now buried in Bienvillers Military Cemetery
History note
(From CWGC website) Gunner Miller was the son of Mr H W Miller and Mrs A E Miller of 24 Greyswood Street, Streatham, London.
Painted
43101 GNR MILLER R.W. B/190 R.F.A. KILLED IN ACTION -2-4-18
Embossed
G.R.U
Inscription
A3 101. GUNR. R.W. MILLER
Inscription
B/190. BDE. R.F.A
Inscription
04-18
