Gunner Charles J L Miles

Charles James Leslie Miles was the husband of Mildred Miles, of New Malden, Surrey.

Miles enlisted in the Royal Artillery (RA) and later served with 2nd (Oban) Airlanding Anti-Tank Battery RA.

He took part in the amphibious landings in Italy in September 1943, onboard a mine layer, HMS Abdiel.

Shortly before the men were due to disembark HMS Abdiel hit a mine, causing its own mines to detonate and splitting the ship in two. The ship sank in four minutes. Over twenty members of the battery died in the explosion including Gnr Miles.

Gnr Miles died on 10 September 1943, aged 26 years, and is now buried in Bari War Cemetery, Italy.

Headstone photograph courtesy of Bob Hilton.