Reginald Albert Miller was born in Thame on 23rd June 1920, the son of William and Louisa Hannah Miller (nee Woodley), of 78 Park Street Thame. He was baptised at St Mary’s church on 22nd August 1920 when his father William is recorded as a gardener.

By 1939 they were living at 101 High Street. Reg Miller met Edna Linacre when she came to work in Thame in 1937 and they married in 1943 in Doncaster, Yorkshire. A son, Keith R Miller, was born in Bentley, Doncaster in 1945.

At the outbreak of WW2 Reg enlisted in the Dorset Regiment and served as a signaller with the 1st Battalion 1st Dorsets during the siege of Malta. After resting in Alexandria his unit took part in the invasion of Sicily, returning to England in November 1943.

Because of their invasion experience the 1st Dorsets led the assault on Normandy in the D-Day landings of 6th June 1944.

The battle of attrition by the British and Canadians armies as they tried to break out of their beachhead led to many lives being lost, including Reg who was killed on the 11th July 1944.

5725766 Private Reginald Albert Miller, Dorset Regiment, is buried in Bayeux War Cemetery, Calvados, France. He is remembered in Thame on the war memorial and on St Mary’s church memorial board.