David Miller was born on November 5, 1915, the eldest son of Douglas Martin Miller (born in Oil Springs, Ontario) and Iva Ellen (nee Shephard, born in Bickford, Ontario) Miller, of 394 Campbell Street, Sarnia. Father Douglas was a railway employee. David had four siblings: Clifford Stanley (born 1916); Lloyd Gordon (born 1918, died two years later); Nadine Anne (born 1920); and Claire. For a time prior to his enlistment, David operated a service station at the corner of London Road and Vidal street. David would marry Jessie Marguerite Irwin, the eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Chester Irwin of Port Colborne, at St. Paul’s United Church on February 16, 1941. At the ceremony, Miss Wilma Irwin, sister of the bride, served as bridesmaid and Alex Hodges served as the best man. A reception was given by the bridegroom’s parents, and afterwards, the newlywed couple left on a motor trip to Toronto and Niagara Falls. David Miller got married while home on a 24-day leave; then he had to return to an eastern RCAF depot.

David enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force, and in March of 1941, he had left Fingal Air Training School for a destination in Eastern Canada. After his enlistment, David’s wife Jessie went to Port Colborne to reside with her parents. David would become a member of RCAF #148 Squadron “Trusty”. On September 28, 1942, he was part of a crew aboard a Wellington aircraft. On that day, it failed to return from operations over Tobruk, North Africa. Perishing with Flight sergeant-Wireless operator/Air Gunner David Miller was Sgt. D.A. Mitchell. In November of 1942, parents Douglas and Iva Miller in Sarnia would receive the news that their son David was reported missing, that he had not returned from an operational flight in the Middle East several weeks ago. In Port Colborne, David’s wife, Jessie Marguerite Miller, would also receive the news that her husband was reported missing after not returning from operations in the Middle East.

David Miller would later be officially listed as, Previously reported missing after air operations, now for official purposes, presumed dead, overseas. In June of 1943, his wife Marguerite Miller who was now residing at 294 Campbell street, Sarnia, would receive a telegram from Ottawa informing her that her husband, Flight Sergeant David Douglas Miller, is presumed to have died on September 28 of the previous year during air operations over Tobruk in Africa. Twenty-six year old Flight Sergeant David Miller has no known grave. His name is inscribed on the Alamein Memorial, Egypt, Column 264. David Miller Citations: Etoile de 1939-1945, Africa Star, Defence Medal, War Medal 1939-1945, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal & Clasp, Operational Wings post humously awarded on February 28, 1947.

SOURCES: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, J, L, M, N, 2C, 2D