Milton Frederick Burnham Griffin

Biography

 

Milton Frederick Burnham Griffin was born on June 21st, 1897 or 1898 in Peterborough, Ontario Canada. He had blue eyes, light brown hair, a fair complexion, and was 5 feet 4 ½ inches tall. He lived at 473 Bolivar St. Peterborough, Ontario with his parents Frederick and Lillie Griffin and he was their eldest son. Milton was a part of the Missionary Alliance (a religion), worked as a Driver and/or Locksmith, had no military experience, and enlisted the first time on February 23rd, 1916; his attestation papers say he was born in 1897, his age was 18 years and 8 months old, and that he worked as a Driver. He was assigned to the 93rd battalion and was given the regiment #195742, but on July 10th, 1916 he was medically discharged from the 93rd battalion; the unit sailed on July 15th, 1916. He enlisted the second time on October 24th, 1916 and this time his attestation papers say he was born in 1998, his age is 18 years and 4 months old, and that he worked as a Locksmith. He was cleared for service on October 26th, 1916 and was given the regiment #226837. Milton left Canada on March 26th, 1917 and arrived in England on April 7th, 1917 on the S.S. Missanabie then assigned to the 8th reserve battalion in England and had taken on strength (T.O.S.) on April 9th, 1917 and was appointed Corporal on August 24th, 1917, however on May 10th, 1918 he was reverted back to his permanent rank a Private since Milton was proceeding overseas to join the 58th battalion. He landed in France and T.O.S.  as a part of the 58th battalion, the transfer was effective on June 1st, 1918 this was the last battalion he was a part of before he was killed in action during the attack on Bois du Sart on the morning of August 27th, 1918 (he was reported shot by a machine gun bullet in the heart which would have killed him instantly). He was 20 years and 6 or 10 months old when he died (depending on which year he was born) and only served for 2 years and 2 months.

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Cemetery Information

Milton was first buried at Sheet 51b.0.1b.08. Row A. Grave 31. and moved to the Vis-en-Artois British Cemetery which is at the north side of the main road between two villages; Vis-en-Artois and Haucourt, Milton is buried at Plot 3. Row 1. Grave 24. Milton Griffin’s name is displayed in the Memorial Chamber of Peace Tower on September 9th every year on page #420 and is the 13th name.