b. 24/06/1891 Cedar Springs, Ontario, Canada. d. 08/08/1918 Demuin, France.
Henry “Harry” Garnet Bedford Miner (1891-1918) was born in Cedar Springs, Ontario, Canada on 24th June 1891, son of John and Sarah Orpha Miner, and lived on a farm. He was a student at Highgate School in Oxford Township, then went into farming. In December 1915 he enlisted in the 142nd Infantry Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force, and was transferred to the 58th Infantry Battalion the following year. Miner received the Croix de Guerre from the French government in recognition of the part he played in operations near Lens in 1917.
Harry G B Miner VC
Corporal Miner was awarded the Victoria Cross posthumously for his conduct on 8th August 1918, the first day of the massive Allied offensive around Amiens in France. Near Demuin, Miner charged a German machine gun position alone and, after killing the crew, turned the captured weapon on the retreating enemy. Later in the day, with the help of two comrades, he attacked another enemy machine gun emplacement and put it out of action. Again alone, Miner assaulted a German bombing post, dealt with two enemy soldiers with his bayonet, and put the other occupants of the position to flight. It was during this last action that Corporal Miner received severe grenade wounds that proved to be fatal.
He was buried in Crouy Military Cemetery, Amiens, France. His citation was published in the London Gazette on 26th October 1918. His medals including the VC, British War Medal 1914-20, Victory Medal 1914-19 and the French Croix de Guerre, are held by the Huron County Museum, Goderich, Ontario. In other tributes, The South Barracks (building M-209) in Land Force Central Area Training Centre Meaford (LFCATC Meaford) is named the Corporal H.G.B. Miner Barracks in his honour. Branch 185 of the Royal Canadian Legion in Blenheim, Ontario, is named the Harry Miner Branch.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: HURON COUNTY MUSEUM, GODERICH, CANADA.
BURIAL PLACE: CROUY MILITARY CEMETERY, AMIENS, FRANCE.
PLOT V, ROW B, GRAVE 11
Acknowledgements:
Kevin Brazier – Cemetery Map.
Huron County Museum – Image of the Miner VC medal.