Cadet (Acting Sergeant 714166) John MILWARD, Royal Fusiliers, attached to 35th Squadron, Royal Air Force. He was killed while flying on duty on the 6th August 1918 aged 19 years and 7 months. He was the son of John and Mary Elizabeth Milward of 21, High Street, Alton, Staffordshire. He is at rest in the Catholic Churchyard of St John the Baptist, Castle Hill,Alton, Staffs. Some notes from his Army Records. He joined the army 7th March 1917. He was living with his parents at 315, Ordnance Road, Enfield Lock, Enfield, London, later the family moved to High Street, Alton, Staffordshire. He was by occupation a Clerk. He was posted to the on the 19th March 1917 to the Mechanical Transport, Army Service Corps at Grove Park as Private M/299613, where he qualified as a lorry driver. He was later transferred to the 104th Training Reserve Battalion at Waverley, Edinburgh on the 12th May 1917 as Private TR/714166. On the 16th September 1917 he was transferred to 259th Infantry Battalion at Ipswich. The 2nd November 1917 he was once again transferred to 51st Graduated Battalion, Royal Fusiliers as Private, Royal Fusiliers at Newmarket, Suffolk. The 31st of December 1917 was a turning point in the life of John he was transferred to No 1, Royal Flying Corps , Cadet Wing at St Leonards on Sea, (H Q at Balton Lodge) Newmarket and was given the rank as Acting Sergeant, but retaining he army number 714166. On the 1st March 1918 he was at No 2 School of Aeronautics, Oxford. 28th April 1918 he was at the Armament School, RAF Uxbridge and finally on the 25th May 1918 he was at No 35, Training Depot Station, Thetford, Norfolk. Events of what happened on the fateful day. He was ordered to fly a D H 6 for the purpose of Aerial firing. Several witness saw the accident and statements were made and presented as evidence at the crash enquire, they all gave similar accounts of the events that led to the crash. He was flying at low altitude between 150 feet and 250 feet above the ground fast, he turned or attempted to turn to the right and got his nose down and he started to spin which developed into an out of control spin which flew into trees and the ground. All stated that the engine was running when he it the ground. He was classed as an average pilot on a D H 6, and was inclined to be over confident. When he was removed from the wreck he was seen by Captain Langford George Davies, Royal Army Medical Corps Thetford at the station. and treated for his injuries. He wasthen admitted to the Military Hospital, Thetford about 5.35 pm suffering from sever shock, fractures to both femurs, compound fracture to lowers left leg, and superficial burns to his body. He died two hours 7.15 pm later of shock, the result of an aeroplane accident. His body was released on the 9th August 1918 to his family for burial in St John the Baptist Churchyard, Alton, Staffordshire.
