Brigadier-General Philip John Miles, CB, CMG, FRGS, (23 December 1864 – 26 December 1948) was a British officer of the Indian Army during the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. After an early career serving on the North-West Frontier and in Central Asia, he rose to command brigades during the First World War and the Third Anglo-Afghan War.
Early life and careeredit
Miles was born on 23 December 1864, the eldest son of a rural curate.[1] His father, Philip John Miles, was the curate of Little Bytham in Lincolnshire, and had married Elinor Sarah Jex-Blake, a clergyman's daughter, on 3 February of the same year.[2]
Around the turn of the century, Miles was posted to special duties in the Gilgit Agency, on the Chinese-Indian border,[4] and then as the "Temporary Assistant to the Resident at Srinagar on Chinese Affairs" in Kashgar, Chinese Turkestan, now western Xinjiang. Here, he served as the British resident diplomat and official in far western China, and as "Colonel Miles" is mentioned several times by travellers of the period.[5]
Miles briefly commanded a New Army brigade of Irish volunteer troops, the 47th Brigade of 16th (Irish) Division, in France from December 1915 to January 1916.[7] His younger brother, Henry, was at the time a temporary second lieutenant in one battalion of the brigade, the 6th Connaught Rangers; he would be killed in action at the Somme in July 1916.[8]
Miles' last military service was to command a brigade in the Waziristan campaign of 1919; he retired in December of that year, with the honorary rank of Brigadier-General.[10]
^"Miles, Philip Edward (FML849PE)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.. The date is given as November, but this appears to be a mistake; see announcement in the Bury and Norwich Post for 9 February 1864.
^"Miles, Henry Robert (FML885HR)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.. Henry's appointment as a second lieutenant is given in "No. 29273". The London Gazette. 24 August 1915. p. 8401.
Crosby, Oscar Terry (1905). Tibet and Turkestan : a journey through old lands and a study of new conditions. Putnam.
MILES, Brig.-Gen. Philip John, in Who Was Who (2008)
October 30, 2023
philip, miles, indian, army, officer, brigadier, general, philip, john, miles, frgs, december, 1864, december, 1948, british, officer, indian, army, during, late, nineteenth, early, twentieth, century, after, early, career, serving, north, west, frontier, cent. Brigadier General Philip John Miles CB CMG FRGS 23 December 1864 26 December 1948 was a British officer of the Indian Army during the late nineteenth and early twentieth century After an early career serving on the North West Frontier and in Central Asia he rose to command brigades during the First World War and the Third Anglo Afghan War Early life and career editMiles was born on 23 December 1864 the eldest son of a rural curate 1 His father Philip John Miles was the curate of Little Bytham in Lincolnshire and had married Elinor Sarah Jex Blake a clergyman s daughter on 3 February of the same year 2 After being educated at Shrewsbury School Miles joined the Royal Marine Light Infantry in 1885 but after two years service transferred to the Indian Army as an officer in the 45th Rattrays Sikhs He served in the Hazara Expedition of 1888 the First Miranzai Expedition of 1891 and in China during the Boxer Rebellion in 1900 3 Around the turn of the century Miles was posted to special duties in the Gilgit Agency on the Chinese Indian border 4 and then as the Temporary Assistant to the Resident at Srinagar on Chinese Affairs in Kashgar Chinese Turkestan now western Xinjiang Here he served as the British resident diplomat and official in far western China and as Colonel Miles is mentioned several times by travellers of the period 5 Senior command editAfter his return to regular duties he served with the Malakand Field Force during the Mohmand expedition of 1908 where he was mentioned in despatches and promoted to a brevet lieutenant colonel He was promoted to command the 51st Sikhs Frontier Force in 1909 with a substantive promotion to Colonel in 1913 and relinquished command of the regiment in 1914 6 Miles briefly commanded a New Army brigade of Irish volunteer troops the 47th Brigade of 16th Irish Division in France from December 1915 to January 1916 7 His younger brother Henry was at the time a temporary second lieutenant in one battalion of the brigade the 6th Connaught Rangers he would be killed in action at the Somme in July 1916 8 In 1917 Miles returned to India where he led a column in the Operations against the Marri and Khetran tribes for which he was made a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George 9 Miles last military service was to command a brigade in the Waziristan campaign of 1919 he retired in December of that year with the honorary rank of Brigadier General 10 References edit Who Was Who Miles Philip Edward FML849PE A Cambridge Alumni Database University of Cambridge The date is given as November but this appears to be a mistake see announcement in the Bury and Norwich Post for 9 February 1864 Who Was Who Who Was Who Crosby pp 31 33 Who Was Who Who Was Who Miles Henry Robert FML885HR A Cambridge Alumni Database University of Cambridge Henry s appointment as a second lieutenant is given in No 29273 The London Gazette 24 August 1915 p 8401 Who Was Who Who Was Who Crosby Oscar Terry 1905 Tibet and Turkestan a journey through old lands and a study of new conditions Putnam MILES Brig Gen Philip John in Who Was Who 2008 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Philip Miles Indian Army officer amp oldid 1159148260, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
