BORN FRODINGHAM, 1876. A COACH PAINTER.
HE MARRIED HANNAH MARIA MICHAEL (1876-1916), AT HULL, IN 1899. SHE LIVED AT 14, EMILY TERRACE, GILLETT STREET, HULL (WAR PENSION ADDRESS). HE HAD THREE SONS, REUBEN JOHN, FRANCIS WILLIAM AND GEORGE SAMUEL AND TWO DAUGHTERS, ELIZA & MARY ANN MILNER.
HE ENLISTED IN HULL. SERVED WITH THE 3RD EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT. DIED AT HEDON, ON 05/12/1914, AGED 38. FELL 50 FEET FROM BALCONY AT VICTORIA MANSION BARRACKS, HEDON & IMPALED ON RAILINGS.
HE WAS A SOBER MAN AND REPORTED TO LIKE THE ARMY. HE LEFT A PIECE OF PAPER IN HIS CUBICLE WITH JUST HIS NAME WRITTEN ON IT. HIS WIFE SAID HE HAD NEVER TALKED OF SUICIDE AND HIS SERGEANT SAID IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE FOR HIM TO HAVE ACCIDENTALLY FALLEN. THE INQUEST RECORDED AN OPEN VERDICT. HE IS BURIED AT HULL WESTERN CEMETERY IN A CWGC GRAVE.
HIS ARMY EFFECTS WERE LEFT TO HIS WIDOW, HANNAH, WHO DIED IN 1916.
THE GUARDIANS OF HIS CHILDREN WERE KATE WILFORD OF 128, FOUNTAIN ROAD, HULL AND ALICE WILFORD, OF 6, CAMBRIDGE STREET, WITHERNSEA (WAR PENSION RECORDS).
HIS DEATH IS REPORTED IN THE HULL DAILY MAIL ON 8TH DECEMBER 1914. *
