Lives of the First World War

Richard Milton, born in Battersea around 1898 to Charles Milton, was living in New Malden when he enlisted for the duration of the war at Whitehall. He initially served in the Royal Sussex Regiment as G/12688 (the G/-prefix indicating a duration of the war enlistment). Judging by the medal rolls this would have been whilst still in the UK. He had entered the France and Flanders theatre by 15 March 1917, presumably on transfer to the Corps of the Royal Fusiliers, for posting-on to a battalion. Ater subsequently transferring (probably at base depot) to the Royal Fusiliers under the new regimental number GS/53139, he was killed in action with the 2nd Battalion on 24 April 1917, aged 19. This was most probably during the Second Battle of the Scarpe, when at 2am on 24 April 1917 the 2nd Royal Fusiliers came forward to the ridge running south from Infantry Hill at Monchy-le-Preux, which the 4th Worcestershires had taken earlier the previous day, and before dawn relieved the mixed collection of troops (including survivors of the 4th Worcestershires) in the valley and facing the copse. He is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, Faubourg d'Amiens Cemetery, one of 34,833 casualties between the spring of 1916 and 7 August 1918 there commemorated with no known grave, most killed in the Battle of Arras, fought between 9 April and 16 May 1917. His father, Charles Milton, resided at 38, Albemarle Gardens, New Malden, Surrey.

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