Mistakes all round with this soldier – His name on Army Docs. is John H. also on the Gresford Roll of Honour and on the Bangor Memorial Arch he is V.W. MILLINGTON, but in reality, he was John Wesley MILLINGTON !!!!!
John Wesley Millington was born in the September Quarter of 1882, (Denbighshire Volume: 11b
Page: 273), the son of Lucy Sarah Millington, daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth Millington (nee Davies).
John Wesley is seen for the first time on the 1891 census living with his Grandparents, Samuel, 57, a Jobbing Gardener, who had been born in Wrenbury, Cheshire and Elizabeth, 65 at Poplar Cottage, Vicarage Lane, Gresford, Denbighshire. Also in the household were their daughters, Annie E., 25, Lucy S. 22, both single and John W. age 8, born Gresford, Denbighshire.
His mother Lucy Sarah Millington, 28, married John Samuel Robinson, 21 on the 1st June 1897, at All Saint’s Church, Gresford.
The 1901 census sees John Wesley Millington, now 18, a Brickmaker, still with his Grandmother Elizabeth, 76, now a widow, still in Vicarage Lane, Gresford, with her daughter Annie E., single and age 36. In the household was Lucy Sarah Robinson, 32, and her husband John Samuel Robinson, 25 a Coal Dealer, working on his own account, at home, he had been born in Summerhill, Denbighshire. Their 2 children Frank A. Robinson, 2 and daughter Dora I.Robinson, 8 months old were also in the household. Both had been born in Gresford.
By 1911, John Wesley Millington, described as “Nephew” on the census, age 28 working as a “Carter for Coal Merchant,” (perhaps this was his step-father John Samuel Robinson?) and was still living at Poplar Cottage, with his step-father John Samuel Robinson,34 and a Coal Merchant and mother Lucy Sarah Robinson, who tell us that they had been married for 13 years and that 4 children had been born to them, who were still living. Their children were Frank Arthur, 12 and Dora Isobel, 10, both at school. The other two younger children were Thomas Edward, 9 and Lucy Elizabeth, 6 both born in Gresford.
John Millington in the UK, Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919 tells us that he had been born and resided in Gresford, Denbighshire and enlisted in Wrexham and that he died of wounds.
John H Millington in the UK, Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, 1901-1929 tells us that the sole Legatee was his sister Mrs. Lucy S. ROBINSON, who received £6 0s 2d on the 16th February 1917 his War Gratuity of £3 on the 5th March 1917. There was a repayment of 3/7d in March 1917 to Shrewsbury. (Regimental Paymaster.)
John H Millington in the British Army WWI Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920 tells us that he was awarded the Victory & British War Medals, but does not tell us where his first Theatre of War was nor when he entered it. This source tells us that he had two Regiments – The Royal Welsh (Welch) Fusiliers, Welsh Regiment with Regimental Numbers – 8800, 15626 – so he was in the Royal Welsh Fusiliers first.
Any help would be appreciated.
Researched and compiled by Mavis Williams
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