Dedicated to the memory of all the men and women of the South Staffordshire area who died during the two World Wars.
David Milton was born at Codsall where he was baptised on 25th October, 1896. He was the son of Harry Milton, a house painter, and his wife Fanny Jane. In 1901 the family were living in Church Road but they later moved to 5 Evelyn Villas, Brook Lane. David was one of the youngest of a large family. In 1911, aged 14, he was working as an errand boy.
David may have enlisted before the outbreak of war - at any rate he appears to have joined up by the end of August 1914. He initially served with the 1st Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers - a regular battalion - and he was probably with them when he went to France at the end of December 1914. After fighting with the 1st during 1915 he was probably transferred to the 8th (Service) Battalion when it moved to France from Egypt in July 1916.
Milton was killed in action on 26th September, 1916 when the 8th took part in an attack on Zollern Redoubt during the Battle of Thiepval Ridge (a phase of the Battle of the Somme, 1916). The War Diary of the 8th Battalion records:
At Zero hour, 12.35 p.m., the Troops left the Trenches and almost immediately the enemy's Barrage started on the front line, also considerable Machine Gun Fire from the MOUQUET FARM and the ZOLLERN REDOUBT. An inspection of the ground on the next day showed that many men were killed within 40 yards of our front line and some were hit whilst getting out of the Trenches. . . Casualties approx 19 off. 430 OR.
L/Cpl David Milton, 3776, is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial. He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals and the 1914/15 Star.
This memorial has mostly been compiled from official sources. It would be good to be able to expand it with more personal material - memories, stories, photos, etc. If you have any suitable material or any corrections please contact Greg.