Blackmore. Remembering Bertie Millbank

Bertie Millbank

War Memorial: Place and inscription Unknown

Rank: Private

Regiment: Essex Regiment. 2nd Battalion.  Service No: 8544 [CWGC]

Service Details: Private Bertie Millbank Born: Blackmore 13.1.1887 Lived: Romford, 29 Richmond Road Enlisted: Romford Died of Wounds. France. 23.9.1914 Age: 27 Next of Kin: No * [source: Essex Regiment Museum database]

Personal and family information: Bertie Millbank was baptised at Blackmore on 13th February 1887 (born 13/1/1887), parents William, a labourer, and Emma [ERO D/P 266/1/11]. The name appears in the ‘Sunday School Admission Register’ as Bertie Millbank. No age is recorded other than ‘7yrs’  [ERO D/P 266/28]. 1891 census: Hay Green, Blackmore – William Millbank. Head. [Age] 39. Agricultural Labourer. [Born] Margaretting. Emma Millbank. Wife. [Age] 40.  [Born] Blackmore Arthur Millbank. Son. [Age] 18. Agricultural Labourer [Born] Blackmore Frederick Millbank. Son. [Age] 16. Agricultural Labourer [Born] Blackmore William Millbank. Son. [Age] 14. Agricultural Labourer [Born] Blackmore Herbert Millbank. Son. [Age] 12. Agricultural Labourer [Born] Blackmore Walter Millbank. Son. [Age] 10. Scholar [Born] Blackmore Ernest Millbank. Son. [Age] 8. Scholar [Born] Blackmore Bertie Millbank. Son. [Age] 4. Scholar [Born] Blackmore Eliza Clare Millbank. Daughter. [Age] 2 [Born] Blackmore Harry Millbank. Son. [Age] 4mo.  [Born] Blackmore 1911 Census. Bertie Milbank (spelt with one ‘l’) serving in ‘Military’. To suggest Bertie Millbank had no next of kin (see above *) is not quite true.  Burial Register: William Millbank (otherwise Brown). Blackmore. March 25th 1948. 72 years Ernest Millbank. Swan House, Blackmore. September 5th 1934. 49 years [source: Burial Register in church safe]

Date of Death: 23rd September 1914

Age: 27

Where died: Died of wounds France & Flanders [SDGW]

Place of Burial or Commemoration: Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: 4. 17. 8. Neuilly-Sur-Seine New Communal Cemetery

List of Sources: Church Safe with grateful acknowledgment to the Vicar and churchwardens, Commonwealth War Grave Commission, Military-genealogy.com (Soldiers who Died in the Great War, Essex Record Office.