MILWARD Philip Henry

On 1891 census Philip Henry Milward, aged 18, clerk, lived with his father, John F. Milward, Needle Manufacturer at Southmead, Millsborough Road, Redditch. They were from the well-known Needle Manufacturers of Redditch.

The Bromsgrove, Droitwich and Redditch Messenger, Saturday 11th December 1915:
Redditch Officer’s Death from Wounds
Captain Philip Henry Milward
Official news had been received by his relatives at Redditch of the death, on Tuesday, from wounds received in action in France, of Captain Philip Henry Milward, 7th Battalion, Rifle Brigade. The deceased officer, who was forty-three years of age, was the fourth and youngest son of Mr. J.F. Milward, The Leys, Alvechurch. His earliest military service was with the €œH€ (Redditch Company, 2nd Volunteer Battalion Worcestershire Regiment, in which he held a commission as lieutenant, and at the Weymouth camp of 1894 he had command of €œG€ (Bromsgrove) Company.  In the South African War Captain Milward, then in Natal, joined the Durban Light Infantry, and served through the greater part of that campaign. He was engaged in the early operations of the Tugela River, and his regiment accompanied Sir Redvers Buller’s columns in their advance upon Johannesburg. He was offered and accepted a commission in the King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment, which he resigned at the termination of the war.
On the outbreak of the present war Captain Milward was in the service of the Eastern Produce Company, at Colombo, and towards the end of last year he was instrumental in bringing over a strong contingent of recruits from Ceylon for enlistment here. Enlisting in the Rifle Brigade, he was immediately granted a commission as Captain, and he accompanied the 7th Battalion to France in May, since when the battalion has continuously occupied a position in the Ypres Salient. The unit was heavily engaged on July 29th and 30th in at the action at Hooge, when the flame attack was used by the enemy, and lost half its effectives. Captain Milward was wounded, but made a rapid recovery, and soon rejoined his battalion.
In 1901, Captain Milward married Miss Rose Margaret Edge, second daughter of the late Mr. Charles A. Edge, and there are two children. Since May Mrs. Milward has been engaged in the French military nursing service at Fort Mahon.

The Bromsgrove, Droitwich and Redditch Messenger, Saturday 10th February 1917:
Memorial to a Redditch Officer
At St George’s Church, Redditch, on Sunday morning, a large congregation attended a service held in commemoration of those of the parish who have given their lives in their country’s service during the present war.  An address was given by the Vicar (the Rev. G. L. Michell), and the musical portion of the service included the singing of the Intercessory Hymn (from the King Albert’s Book) and the Russian €œContakion of the Departed,€ which was sung kneeling.  During the service a beautifully designed tablet, which has been placed in the baptistery in memory of the late Captain Phillip Henry Milward, was unveiled by the Rev. Canon Newton, former Vicar of Redditch and Rural Dean.  The inscription on the tablet is as follows: €œIn loving memory of Phillip Henry Milward fourth son of J. F. and F. M. Milward, born Feb. 12th 1873; Captain 7th Battalion Rifle Brigade, who came home from Ceylon in December, 1914, to join His Majesty’s Army, bringing with him a contingent at eighty men and died a year later at Abeele of wounds received near Hooge, Flanders, December 7th, 1915. Laid to rest at Abeele.€
The tablet is the work of the Bromsgrove Guild, and is cast in bronze in a setting of green marble.  At the side is a finely wrought sword, with bay leaf wreath, on which are inscribed the great battles in which the Rifle Brigade has played a part, the regimental badge, and beneath are the appropriate words, *€œDulce et decorum est pro patria movi.€

Bromsgrove, Droitwich and Redditch Messenger digitised by and courtesy of Martin Stephens:   http://www.bromsgrovebmsgh.co.uk

Philip Henry Milward is commemorated on the Milward family memorial in Plymouth Road, Redditch.

Probate records: From Southmead, Redditch, and San Sebastion Mills, Colombo, Ceylon, died 7th December 1915, No 10 Casualty Clearing Station, Abeele, France.