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Auction: 19001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 547

A Great War O.B.E. group of seven awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel J. A. T. Miller, who initially served with the 14th Hussars and Royal Kent Regiment, before Commanding the 14th/20th Hussars from 1933-37, and the 2nd Royal Gloucestershire Hussars - Royal Armoured Corps (T.A.) during the Second World War

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) Officer's 1st type breast badge, silver-gilt (Hallmarks for London 1919); 1914-15 Star (Lieut: J. A. T. Miller. 14/Hrs:); British War and Victory Medals with M.I.D. oak leaf (Capt. J. A. T. Miller.); Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Jubilee 1935 (Lieut. Colonel J.A.T. Miller O.B.E. 14th/20th Hrs.), the last privately engraved, lightly polished and contact marks, nearly very fine (7)

O.B.E. London Gazette 3 June 1919.

John Alfred Tennant Miller was born on 13 November 1887 in the Barton Regis District of Gloucestershire. Commissioned 2nd Lieutenant on 14 December 1907, he served in Mesopotamia with the 14th King's Hussars from 13 November 1915.

The 6th Indian Division had been in Mesopotamia for several months, and under the command of General Charles Townsend had captured Kut from the Turks in Sep 1915. The Commander-in-Chief, General Sir John Nixon was keen for Townsend to advance on Baghdad but for this he needed reinforcements, and the 14th were part of that reinforcement. They reached Kut in late November, a few days after Townsend had been defeated at Ctesiphon. They were ordered forward with 2 companies of the West Kents and met the retreating British at Aziziyeh on 28 Nov. As the only British regular cavalry regiment in the 6th Cavalry Brigade which consisted of the 7th Hariana Lancers, 16th Bengal Lancers, 33rd Bombay Light Cavalry, and 'S' Battery, Royal Horse Artillery, the 14th were made especially welcome.

Contact at El Kutunie

On the evening of 28 November 1915 the gun-boat Shaitan ran aground 8 miles upriver from Azizyeh. The guns and ammunition had to be taken off to lighten her but the crew were attacked by Turks and Arabs. On receiving their message for help Townsend sent the cavalry. The enemy lay dispersed around the village of El Kutunie, many Arabs being spotted among the trees north of the village. The 7th Lancers swung south along the river bank and 'A' Squadron was ordered by Major Hewitt to attack the Arabs on the north side. As they set off, led by Lieut. J. A. T. Miller, a blinding sandstorm blew up which hampered their vision but also covered their approach. They came upon the Arabs as they were forming up and swept through them, scattering them. Lieut Woodhouse's Troop cut down about 40 while the 7th Lancers accounted for 100 more. The enemy fled on foot, on horses and camels, towards the river and many were shot as they swam across. Then the main Turkish force was seem coming towards them and 'S' Battery opened fire. This halted their advance and the cavalry withdrew. None of the British and Indian cavalry were hurt in this action but when they bivouacked the next night they were shelled, causing two men and several horses to be wounded.

Appointed A.D.C. to the Brigade Commander, Indian Expeditionary Force 'D' from 16 March 1916-3 June 1916, Miller was promoted Captain on 23 December 1916 and likely served at Kut-al-Amara, Sheikh Saad and Sannaiyat, being Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 5 June 1919, refers). He was further promoted Major in 1923, Deputy Provost Marshal to the Rhine Army from 1928-1933, and Lieutenant-Colonel on 13 January 1933. Having retired in 1937, he returned to the fold from 22 May 1940 to April 1944, holding a Special Appointment under the Director of Military Operations at the War Office.

Miller married Adelaide Clay in 1933 and died at the Orangery, Frampton on Severn, on 29 October 1972; sold with copied MIC and private research.

Source:
https://www.britishempire.co.uk/forces/armyunits/britishcavalry/14thhussars.htm

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Sold for
£420