MILLWARD, John William

John William Millward was born at Ravensitch in Amblecote and was the son of Mr and Mrs W. Millward of 31 Enville Street, Stourbridge. In 1914 he volunteered for the Worcesters and joined the 9th (Service) Battalion along with many Stourbridge men. After training the battalion joined the 13th Division and was sent in July 1915 to the Dardanelles ? a far cry from the Western Front. Their experiences on the Gallipoli peninsula were both costly and frustrating and they were evacuated in December. They did not return to Britain, however, but were to continue the struggle against the Turks in Mesopotamia and, notably, to rescue General Townsend's force besieged at Kut. They arrived in February 1916 and attempted a relief in April. It failed and Townsend's force went into captivity. The next advance was left until cooler weather and the crucial attack on Kut was made by the Worcesters on the 25th January 1917. Kut fell the next day but 107 men had been killed, including Private John Millward. He was 24 years of age and is buried in Amara Cemetery (19 E 17). His name is commemorated on the Lye and Wollescote, Stourbridge, Lye church and St. Thomas's church, Stourbridge, Memorials.