Isaac John Miller

From the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's Website.

In Memory of
Able Seaman ISAAC JOHN MILLER
SS/53, (RFR/PO/B/2710). H.M.S. "Viknor.", Royal Navy
who died age 29
on 13 January 1915
Son of Herbert Miller, of Hall's Cross, Hooe, Battle, Sussex; husband of Katherine Mary Miller, of 21, Turneville Rd., West Kensington, London.
Remembered with honour
PORTSMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL

A search through the 1891 census came up with Isaac John Miller iving, with his family, in Chertsey, Surrey.

1891 Census – RG12/552 – County of Surrey, Parish of Chertsey, Entry 69 Address: School Road, Lyne, Chertsey, Surrey

Isaac′s mother, "Alice Miller, aged 31, born Chertsey, Surrey", wasn′t mentioned in the certificate on the CWGC′s website because she died, in Chertsey, in 1896, aged 38.

Herbert John Miller married Alice Cosson, in late 1881; she was the daughter of John Cosson (died 1866) from Chertsey, Surrey.and his wife Harriett, who, in the 1861 census, didn′t give or know her place of birth. I couldn't find Harriett or the children in the 1871 census. She may have remarried but I can't be certain

We, also, now, have a list of Isaac′s siblings – three sisters and one older brother.

By the time of the 1901 census, the family had moved to West Sussex, and are living in Northchapel, Petworth.

1901 Census – RG13/953 – Civil Parish: Part of Northchapel; Parish: Part of Northchapel, St. Michael; Rural Division: Part of Petworth; Parliamentary Division of Horsham, Entry 42, Address "Garlands"

Also, for interest, William, Isaac′s older brother, is not in the household at the time of the census but is in the area where he works as a "Carter on Farm". (See the story on "William Miller" – though he may NOT be Isaac′s brother).

In the 1901 census, Herbert gives his first name(s) as John H. and not plain Herbert and knowing how old he was at that time, he, according to the two censuses, must have been born in 1861 or 1862 and the registration of his birth, actually, appears in the September quarter of 1861 as follows - John Herbert Miller, Chertsey, 2a 25.

It would seem that he had, probably, been known as Herbert since a child and he may even have preferred that name but he changed it to John in the 1901 census so, perhaps it was his new wife who didn′t like the name Herbert.

By the time of the 1901 census, he had also remarried. Searching through the Birth, Marriages, and Death registers of the Family Records Centre, the following entries appear in the March quarter of 1898.

Miller John Herbert, Chertsey, 2a 66
Morris Louisa Ann, Chertsey, 2a 66

Regarding Isaac John, it′s strange that, in the 1891 census, his birthplace is given as Edgeware, Middlesex while in the 1901, it becomes Chertsey, Surrey, which happens to be where his siblings were born, according to both censuses! Which was the error and why only in his case? Whatever, I am sure that he is the right Isaac John

The strange thing is that, according to the censuses, not one of the family had been born in Hooe or even in East Sussex. At some time, however, the family must have moved from Chertsey to Northchapel, in West Sussex, where the 1901 census picks them up, and then, sometime after 1901, moved to Hall′s Cross, Hooe, where the certificate on the CWGC website says that, in 1915, Herbert Miller was living.

I can't be certain that Isaac John ever lived in Hooe but the connection with the village was, obviously, through his family moving there. He would have been too old to go to school so won′t appear in any school records and, while he may have worked locally, I've not found any indication that he did. So, he is still a bit of a mystery but time may produce further answers.

In 1913, Isaac John Miller married Katherine Mary Grey in the registration district of Fulham; I don′t know precisely which parish but that doesn′t matter at this point, as again, there is no connection with Hooe, because, up to the time of his death, in 1915, it seems most likely that his wife was living in Kensington.

On a visit to Bexhill Library, I came across the following article in the Bexhill Chronicle, dated 20th February 1915.

"HOOE"

"The news of the death of Mr. Isaac John Miller, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Miller, of Hall′s Cross, Hooe, has just been received. He was on H.M.S. "Viknor", the armed liner which was sunk (either by mine or owing to the rough seas) in January, all the crew being drowned. He was on H.M.S. "Elgar", but was transferred to the "Viknor" on December 12th. He was in the London Fire Brigade for four years, and was called up in August, 1914, as he was on the Royal Naval Reserve, Had he survived, his time would have been up next August. He was only 28 years of age, and he leaves behind a wife and a child aged 12 months, who reside in Kensington, London."

"Mr. and Mrs. Miller have 20 nephews and one son at the Front, and another son has enlisted since the war began, in the Australian contingent."

It now seems to me obvious that it′s because John Herbert Miller moved to Hall′s Cross that Isaac John Miller is on the memorial, but, as I′ve said, time may prove differently.

"H.M.S. Viknor"

The ship, the "H.M.S. Viknor", was originally built for the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company and named the "Atrato". She was built by R. Napier & Sons, of Glasgow and launched on 22nd September 1888. Her design included a superstructure, which gave accommodation for almost 300 passengers.

In 1912, the Royal Mail sold her, as a cruise liner, to the Viking Cruising Company who renamed her the "Viking".

At the outbreak of the war, in 1914, the Admiralty requisitioned most passenger liners, for war service, and this included the "Viking", which was converted into an armed merchant cruiser, and re-named "H. M. S. Viknor". She was assigned to the 10th Cruiser Squadron and patrolled the seas between Scotland and Iceland.

It was while on patrol, on 13th January 1915, just off Tory Island, which is nine miles north of the Donegal coast, that the ship sank but for reasons unknown. She had been in wireless contact with the Malin Head Wireless Station but no distress signals were ever received from the vessel. The Germans had been laying mines in the area and a violent storm had blown in causing very rough seas but whether either of these was the cause of her loss or a combination of both is not known.

All hands were lost, 22 officers and 273 ratings, a total of 295 men, but some bodies were washed up on the shore for days after the ship sank.

In addition to Isaac′s name appearing on the Hooe Memorial, his name is also on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial (see picture and below).

"MILLER ISAAC JOHN"

"SS/53. (RFR/PO/B/2710). HMS Viknor.. Royal Navy. Drowned in loss of vessel off Irish Coast 13th January 1915. Age 29. Son of Herbert Miller of Hall's Cross Hooe"