THE PRO PATRIA PROJECT

MILES Reginald

2/1045, Major, New Zealand Field Artillery, WW!

6191, Brigadier, Headquarters, New Zealand Artillery, WW2

CITATION

Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE)

Gazetted 12 October 1943, p4539

Distinguished Service Order

Gazetted 26 July 1918, p8753

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty.  He fought his battery until the enemy were within 500 yards, and his ammunition exhausted, at the same time rallying infantry stragglers and manning a fire trench, then made a reconnaissance into a wood sending back valuable information.  He was finally wounded by rifle fire at close range

Bar to the Distinguished Service Order

Gazetted 21 September 1944

Escape from Camp 12 PM 3200, Italy (Generals Camp)

This camp was extremely well guarded and inconsequence it was decided that the only possible method of escape would be by way of tunnel.  On the 13th September 1942, tunnelling began. All officers and other ranks worked, with the exception of one officer who was awaiting repatriation.  The entrance to the tunnel was through a sealed up chapel in which all soil was placed.  The work, which consisted of a 3 foot by 3 foot tunnel, 40 feet long with a 10 foot shaft at the entrance and a 7 foot shaft at the exit, was completed by the end of February 1943.  At 2100 hours on the 29th March 1943, Brigadiers MILES and HARGEST, in company with four other officers, escaped through the tunnel.  The four other officers were subsequently recaptured.  Brigadiers Miles and Hargest dressed as workmen and having walked to Florence station, caught a train to Milan where they went to the north station.  They caught a train to Como and walked toward Chiasso, 2 kilometres from Chiasso they left the main road and proceeded across country until they reached a knoll south of Chiasso where the frontier lay along the opposite slope of a valley below them.  The frontier consisted of heavy cyclone netting 12 foot high interlaced with brambles and with small bells near the top.  They cut the wire with pliers at ground level without making much noise and came on to Swiss territory at 220 hours on the 30th March 1943.  They gave themselves up to the police at Mendrisio and were released in Berne on the 2nd April 1943.

Military Cross

Gazetted 1 January 1917, p45

This officer is very keen and plucky, and ever eager to go to any point, however heavily shelled, from which he can best shoot his Battery.  At Armentieres, like othe Battalion Commanders he had to take up new positions at very short notice, and has always done excellent work.  On the Somme he has been under the counter battery group.  His work is worthy of special mention.  He did good work as FOO at Gallipoli till wounded.

Mention in Despatches

Gazetted 31 December 1918, p15230

Sir D. Haig's despatch dated 8 November 1918 submitting names deserving of special mention.

The Military Cross, 1st Class (Greece)

Gazetted

KNOWN AWARDS

Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE)

Distinguished Service Order and bar

Military Cross

1914-15 Star

British War Medal

Victory Medal

       Mention in Despaches

1939-45 Star

Africa Star

Defence Medal

War Medal 1939-45

New Zealand War Service Medal

Silver Jubilee Medal 1935

Coronation Medal 1937

Efficiency Decoration

New Zealand Long and Efficient Service Medal

The Military Cross, 1st Class (Greece)

NOTES

Born 10 December 1892, Springston, New Zealand

Died 20 October 1943, Spain

Attempted to reach Gibraltar

Buried Figueras Municipal Cemetery, Spain