MILLWARD, Thomas

Thomas Millward was the eldest son of Mr James Millward of 56 Worcester Street, Stourbridge. He volunteered for the Worcester Territorials and joined the 2/7th Battalion. He probably crossed with them to France in May 1916 and from that time he did not return home for any leave. He went through the late fighting on the Somme from October 1916 and then in the advance to the Hindenburg Line in March. The battalion was involved in the Third Battle of Ypres from the 17th August and by this time Thomas Millward was attached to the Battalion HQ as a runner. There were major attacks in heavy mud across the Steenbeek near Langemarck in late August. After a short relief the Worcesters came back to the front line near the canal at Wieltje only to suffer heavy shelling, including gas. Three men died in a four day period, but one of those was Private Thomas Millward on the 10th September. In a letter to his father an officer wrote, the 'he was a good soldier, and always performed his duties faithfully and cheerfully'. He was 19 years of age and is buried in Wieltje Cemetery (C 3) and commemorated on the Stourbridge and St. Thomas's church Memorials.