b. 05/05/1820 Glasgow, Scotland. d. 12/06/1892 Simla, India.
James William Miller (1820-1892) was born in Glasgow, Scotland on 5th May 1820. He enlisted in the Honourable East India Company on 22nd June 1841 and was sent to Chatham Dockyard. His trade was listed as a candle maker, and he was described as 5ft 7in tall, grey eyes and a fair complexion. He became part of the Bengal Ordnance Department and was posted to India. He was in the country when the Mutiny broke out in 1857.
James W Miller VC
On the 28th October 1857, at Sikra, near Agra, Lieutenant Glubb of the 38th Regiment of Foot, had been hit and wounded. He was lying exposed to enemy fire in the open. Without hesitation, Miller rushed out to the Lieutenant’s aid, and carried him out of the action. Miller was wounded in this effort and was sent to Agra to recuperate. The reason Miller was present was that he was employed with the heavy howitzers and ordnance stores attached to a detachment of troops commanded by Colonel Cotton during the action at Sikra.
Miller’s citation for the Victoria Cross was not immediately gazetted, and was not published until 25th February 1862, and his medal was presented to him later that year in India. He remained in India for the remainder of his life, rising to the rank of Honorary Lieutenant. He died aged 72 in Simla, India on 12th June 1892, and was laid to rest in an unmarked grave in Christ Churchyard, Simla. His medal’s location is currently not known and it is believed it was stolen.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: NOT PUBLICLY HELD.
BURIAL PLACE: SIMLA CEMETERY, SIMLA, INDIA. (UNMARKED GRAVE).
