2nd Lieutenant R G Miles MC

Ralph George Miles was born in 1885. He was the second son of William Frederick Miles, of Keyham, Leicester, and of his wife, Clara Elizabeth Miles. He went to South Africa and took a farm under Lord Milner's Settlement Scheme. His elder brother, 2nd Lieutenant R. T. W. Miles, was killed on October 2nd, 1917.
2nd Lieutenant Miles served on Commando against the Rebels, and also as a Machine Gunner with the Bechuanaland Mounted Rifles, in German South West Africa. After the conquest of German South West Africa and the consequent disbandment of the forces, he came to England and entered a Cavalry Cadet School, obtaining a Commission in the 5th Dragoon Guards. He went to France in December, 1916, and was mortally wounded on 10th March 1918, dying the next morning. He was posthumously awarded the Military Cross for the following act, thus described in the Gazette of 23rd April 1918:
"When in charge of a flanking party, protecting the right flank of the raiding party, he disposed his party with great skill, and, finding that an enemy post was held, rushed it at the point of the bayonet, killing or capturing all the occupants of the post. He displayed great dash and initiative."
A brother officer wrote to his sister:
"Your brother was a great favourite with us all, and we miss him very much. On March 10th last, while we were in the trenches, we carried out a big raid on the German trenches. Your brother was in charge of a covering party which had to deal with a German advanced post. He led his men very gallantly, and the German garrison were all killed or taken prisoner. Unfortunately Miles was wounded and died in hospital the next day. He died among friends and in a British Hospital and was buried with full military honours in a little cemetery close by."

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