Edward Millen was born on 23 February 1896 in Hoxton, the eldest of the eight children of Edward Millen (1872-1943) and Emma Elizabeth Millen née Riley (1872-1917). On 15 March 1896 he was baptised at St John's Church, Hoxton and the baptismal register gives his family's address as 64 Nicholas Street, Hoxton and his father's occupation as a pianoforte finisher.
The 1911 census shows him as a errand boy living at 76 Westmoreland Place, Hoxton, with his father and four siblings: Emma Elizabeth May Millen (1899-1988), Alice Amelia Millen (1901-1990), George Alexander Millen (1903-1976) and Eleanor Millen (1905-1987).
On 6 August 1915 at St Paul's Churchyard he enlisted as a Rifleman in the 17th (Service) Battalion, The King's Royal Rifle Corps, service number C/4366 and was transferred to their 19th Battalion on 21 October 1915. He was killed in action, aged 20 years, on 3 September 1916 and was buried in Plot 10, Row K, Grave 8 in the Royal Naval Division Cemetery that was located midway between Beaumont-Hamel and Hamel, but on 8 October 1919 his body was exhumed and reburied in Plot 5, Row E, Grave 40 in the Ancre British Cemetery, D50, 80300 Beaumont Hamel, Somme, Picardie, France.
On 11 July 1917 his army effects totalling £5-4s-7d were sent to his mother and on 18 November 1919 his £4-0s-0d war gratuity was sent to his widowed father who was by now living at 62 Westmoreland Place, Hoxton. He was posthumously awarded the British War Medal 1914-1918 and the Victory Medal.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
