Private Benjamin Millington - 19th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers (20530)
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Private 20530 Benjamin Millington of the 19th Battalion, The Lancashire Fusiliers, died of wounds on 21st October 1916, aged 35.
Benjamin was born in Worsley in 1881, the son of May Millington (birth registered at Barton-upon-Irwell in December 1881). In 1905 Benjamin married Edith Mary Clarke and they set up home at 14 Manchester Road East, Little Hulton, Bolton. Their daughter, Edith May, was born in 1907 (their marriage and birth of their daughter were both registered at Barton-upon-Irwell). Benjamin was a sexton at St Paul’s Church in Walkden and was a member of the Men’s Bible Class at the church. He was employed by the Earl of Bridgewater at the Walkden Yard. Recruiting for the 3rd Salford Pals began on 25th January 1915 and recruiting stations were set up across the City and outlying towns and villages. One of the recruiting stations was established by Lieutenant J.L. Freeman at the Bridgewater Colleries company offices in Walkden (Benjamin’s place of employment). The men recruited here went on to form D Company (the ‘Worsley, Walkden and Little Hulton’ Company). |
Private Benjamin Millington, with his wife, Edith and daughter, Edith May
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Benjamin volunteered to join the Army in May 1915 and enlisted into the 19th Battalion of the Lancashire Fusiliers (or the 3rd Salford Pals as they were more commonly known). Shortly afterwards he would have joined the 3rd Salford Pals at their training camp at Penmaenmawr, North Wales. His family remember that Benjamin carried his daughter, Edith May, on his shoulders and then they said their goodbyes. Benjamin’s last words to his daughter were “Edith I will fetch a dolly back for you.”
The 3rd Salford Pals left Wales between 20th and 22nd June for Catterick Bridge and after only a month there, they moved again, on 28th July to Ponteland Camp in Northumberland. After only a week the Pals were sent to Codford St Mary in Wiltshire. The 1st, 2nd and 3rd Salford Pals originally formed part of the 96th Brigade of the 32nd Division. On 21st November the 3rd Salford Pals left Southampton for France and service on the Western Front in the relatively quiet area of the Somme. Benjamin did not travel with the 3rd Salford Pals in November. He first went overseas in early 1916, probably as part of a reinforcing draft. In January 1916 the 3rd Salford Pals transferred to the 14th Brigade of the 32nd Division. During the period from November 1915 to 30th June 1916 the 3rd Salford Pals were introduced to frontline duty in the trenches in the Authuille area, south of Thiepval.
The 3rd Salford Pals were one of the Salford Pals battalions involved in the first day of the Battle of the Somme. On the opening day of the battle, 1st July 1916, they took part in the failed assault on the Leipzig Redoubt, a heavily fortified position to the south of Thiepval village. During the assault the 3rd Salford Pals lost 11 officers and 270 men (almost half their strength). Between the 11th and 14th July, the 2nd and 3rd Salford Pals (comprising only two companies) were once again in action on the Somme, taking part in heavy fighting around the centre of Ovillers town. This was the last time that the 3rd Salford Pals were to see action as an infantry battalion. On 29th July they transferred to the 49th (West Riding) Division, becoming their pioneer battalion. Between the 15th and 22nd September, the 3rd Salford Pals, as part of the 49th Division, were engaged in the Battle of Flers-Courcelette, including the capture of Martinpuich. The 3rd Salford Pals then went on to serve in the trenches on the Somme around Martinsart and Thiepval, before moving further north, to Arras.
It was while serving in the trenches at Arras that Benjamin was mortally wounded. He was struck by a piece of shrapnel in the thigh on the morning of the 21st October. He was removed to a Casualty Clearing Station behind the lines (probably either 20th or 43rd Casualty Clearing Stations). Here he was visited by an Army Chaplain who wrote to his wife, Edith, that same day “Your husband has just arrived with a bad wound in the thigh. He has not had his operation, so I cannot tell you particulars and the extent of the damage. He is under a very good surgeon, and will be well looked after. You will be glad to know that he will receive Holy Communion tomorrow morning. He tells me that you are a Sunday School teacher.” Benjamin died of wounds later that same night.
His quartermaster sergeant wrote to Edith four days later to say that Benjamin had died of wounds, “He will be missed by all his comrades in the Company. I have known him all my life, hailing as I do, from Worsley. He is buried just behind the lines, and a cross will be erected to his memory.”
Benjamin is buried in Warlincourt Halte British Cemetery, Saulty, France. He is commemorated on the St Paul’s Church Roll of Honour, Little Hulton Urban District Roll of Honour, the Sacred Trinity Roll of Honour and the Peel Park War Memorial, in Little Hulton. He left behind a widow and a nine year old daughter. Benjamin was entitled to the British War Medal and Victory Medal, which would have been sent to his next of kin after the end of the war.
The 3rd Salford Pals left Wales between 20th and 22nd June for Catterick Bridge and after only a month there, they moved again, on 28th July to Ponteland Camp in Northumberland. After only a week the Pals were sent to Codford St Mary in Wiltshire. The 1st, 2nd and 3rd Salford Pals originally formed part of the 96th Brigade of the 32nd Division. On 21st November the 3rd Salford Pals left Southampton for France and service on the Western Front in the relatively quiet area of the Somme. Benjamin did not travel with the 3rd Salford Pals in November. He first went overseas in early 1916, probably as part of a reinforcing draft. In January 1916 the 3rd Salford Pals transferred to the 14th Brigade of the 32nd Division. During the period from November 1915 to 30th June 1916 the 3rd Salford Pals were introduced to frontline duty in the trenches in the Authuille area, south of Thiepval.
The 3rd Salford Pals were one of the Salford Pals battalions involved in the first day of the Battle of the Somme. On the opening day of the battle, 1st July 1916, they took part in the failed assault on the Leipzig Redoubt, a heavily fortified position to the south of Thiepval village. During the assault the 3rd Salford Pals lost 11 officers and 270 men (almost half their strength). Between the 11th and 14th July, the 2nd and 3rd Salford Pals (comprising only two companies) were once again in action on the Somme, taking part in heavy fighting around the centre of Ovillers town. This was the last time that the 3rd Salford Pals were to see action as an infantry battalion. On 29th July they transferred to the 49th (West Riding) Division, becoming their pioneer battalion. Between the 15th and 22nd September, the 3rd Salford Pals, as part of the 49th Division, were engaged in the Battle of Flers-Courcelette, including the capture of Martinpuich. The 3rd Salford Pals then went on to serve in the trenches on the Somme around Martinsart and Thiepval, before moving further north, to Arras.
It was while serving in the trenches at Arras that Benjamin was mortally wounded. He was struck by a piece of shrapnel in the thigh on the morning of the 21st October. He was removed to a Casualty Clearing Station behind the lines (probably either 20th or 43rd Casualty Clearing Stations). Here he was visited by an Army Chaplain who wrote to his wife, Edith, that same day “Your husband has just arrived with a bad wound in the thigh. He has not had his operation, so I cannot tell you particulars and the extent of the damage. He is under a very good surgeon, and will be well looked after. You will be glad to know that he will receive Holy Communion tomorrow morning. He tells me that you are a Sunday School teacher.” Benjamin died of wounds later that same night.
His quartermaster sergeant wrote to Edith four days later to say that Benjamin had died of wounds, “He will be missed by all his comrades in the Company. I have known him all my life, hailing as I do, from Worsley. He is buried just behind the lines, and a cross will be erected to his memory.”
Benjamin is buried in Warlincourt Halte British Cemetery, Saulty, France. He is commemorated on the St Paul’s Church Roll of Honour, Little Hulton Urban District Roll of Honour, the Sacred Trinity Roll of Honour and the Peel Park War Memorial, in Little Hulton. He left behind a widow and a nine year old daughter. Benjamin was entitled to the British War Medal and Victory Medal, which would have been sent to his next of kin after the end of the war.
Benjamin Millington’s name is listed on the right hand panel of the Sacred Trinity Church
References:
Westlake, R. Kitchener’s Army. Spellmount Ltd, UK, 1989.
Gliddon, G. Somme 1916. The History Press, Stroud, 2009.
Stedman, M. Salford Pals. Pen & Sword Books Ltd, Barnsley 2007.
Westlake, R. Kitchener’s Army. Spellmount Ltd, UK, 1989.
Gliddon, G. Somme 1916. The History Press, Stroud, 2009.
Stedman, M. Salford Pals. Pen & Sword Books Ltd, Barnsley 2007.
