213030 Pte. Jampson Young Miller British Army 20th Btn. Durham Light Infantry from:Sunderland, Co. Durham Jampson Young Miller was born on 29 December 1882 in Church Walk which is the small lane that runs pass the Holy Trinity Church in the east end of Sunderland. His birth was also recorded wrongly as Jamson.
Jampson was one of 9 children and his father was William Burlinson Miller and his mother was Eliza Usher, who were also both born in Sunderland.
Jampson served in the First World War in the Durham Light Infantry. He join up on 5 September 1915. Although records show he was attached to the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion Durham Light Infantry his number is prefixed with a 20 indicating that he served overseas with the 20th (Wearside) Battalion. The 20th was raised in Sunderland on 10 July 1915 and landed in France on 5 May 1916.
The 20th Battalion DLI saw action at: Flers-Courcelette, Ancre Heights, Somme, 1916; Pilckem, Menin Road Ridge, Ypres, 1917; Bapaume, 1918; Somme, 1918; Ypres, 1918. and were disbanded in November 1918. The 20th Battalion was a part of the 123rd Brigade of the 41st Division. The Division formed in Britain in October 1915 from the Locally Raised or Pals Battalions from various parts of the country. Arrived in France in May 1916. Served in France and Flanders until November 1917 when the Division went to Italy, the Division served in Italy until March 1918 when it went back to France. The Division remained in France and Flanders until the Armistice. In March 1918 the 20th Balttalion was transferred to the 124th Brigade. The 124th was also part of the 41st Division.
The first battle in which Jampson was involved in was a very famous one, this was the Battle of Flers-Courcelette. Flers-Courcelette was the first battle during which Tanks were used in warfare. It is revealing to know that one of your ancestors was at a very famous event as this battle was.
Jampson was known to have been gassed (this was likely during the Battles of Passchendaele when the German's used Mustard Gas). Jampson's army discharge papers show that Jampson was discharged on 12 February 1918 as been medically unfit for service. Jampson in fact from the war returned with a severe sharpnel wound in his back. This wound was so bad that you could place your fist in it. After the First World War worked as a labourer with the Sunderland Water Board doing sewage work.
The 20th Battalion DLI were involved in further battles of the Somme and Ypres in 1918. However, the next major battle on the Somme did not commence until 21 March 1918. Jampson was discharged in Febuary 1918 so it is possible he was wounded toward the end of the Third Battle of Ypres and was discharged when he had recovered sufficently to be released from hospital.
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