George Ambrose Miller
(1889 - 1974)
of
Ringmer, Sussex in England, Freemantle in Western Australia and Brighton in Victoria Australia
by Robyn Fisher
George Ambrose MILLER. George or Porge as he was known by his family in later life, was born in Ringmer, in Sussex, ENGLAND, on 29 September 1889. He was baptised in the Church of St Mary the Virgin in Ringmer on 12 January 1890. I do not know why there is such a gap in the time between his birth and baptism.
George was the son of Ambrose MILLER (1864-1920) and Elizabeth READING (1879-1917).
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Ringmer School about 1895
Photographer Frank Doran 64 Church Street Brighton Inscribed on back GAM 2nd from L in front row M. J. Jackson (H.M.) with beard Connie Wicks 3rd row (Centre) an early love |
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Ringmer School - date unknown probably around 1897 This photo is very badly damaged |
George wrote this piece around 1962 and I transcribed it from the original held by grandson John Austin in 1993. It gives a little insight into his life in Ringmer, and also his sense of humour.
1896, AND ALL THAT
Geo. A. Miller, Melbourne, Australia
As an infant I stood outside our Sussex cottage, and look as far as I could see to the bend in the road. And this for me was the End of the World. There was nothing beyond that. After more than three score years and ten, I look back upon many people who, in their work, profession, or thinking have been and are as blindfolded and blinkered. There have been and no horizons beckoning them on to more wonderful things.
Once I had got round hat bend in the road life to me has been a never-ending opening up of new vistas. What a discovery I made when I was ushered into the village school a mile and a half away. And all those children, 160 of them! On a fine day the dust from the roads covered us. And when the rain came the steam from our drenched clothes made the school-house smell to high heaven. We had, all of us, to walk the journey to and from school. Shanks’ pony was the only means of transport. I now notice children with neat pavements to walk on taking a bus or ram for their half-mile hike to school.
The village doctor in my time, would have starved if dependent upon service to the youngsters. And for the whole of that period there was only one juvenile death in the village. As for the dentist there was no such animal. Incidentally I still have nearly all my teeth.
We hear of schools today being run by the kids. This to me is, perhaps, more revolutionary than a trip to the moon. There was a legend that just before my time, a boy had heaved an ink-pot at the master. No-one believed that any more than we believed the fairy stories we read in the school books.
We might have accepted it if the yarn has spoken of his being thrashed to death. For no boy could have done such an outrageous thing and lived to tell the tale. Ours was not to reason why. The cane was always on hand to make us see the light. Human nature being what it is, in my more pessimistic and possibly more realistic moments, I am not sure the discipline was such a bad thing. According to reports of school behaviour today, I can cross my heart and declare we kids were complete and utter squares. We not only did not throw things around, but to give any teacher cheek was as unheard of as dancing on grandmother’s grave. And let it be said we felt no injustice in not being allowed to turn the class-room into a shambles. Dean Inge wrote an essay on “Happiness” and asked if we were any happier than our fathers. He came up with the answer, “No”. By the same token I do not believe that the present-day kids with their new-found freedom are any happier than we were. Apart from downright cruelty I doubt very much whether circumstance has much to do with happiness. We have a built-in capacity, and we can neither exceed that capacity nor normally run short. Suicide seems more rampant where everything appears laid on for human satisfaction. Queer, isn’t it? So I feel the sooner the dominees and the school-marms get back in the box seat again the better for their nervous systems and certainly the better for the training of their charges. In the little country school I attended we were particularly fortunate in having a Head who was not only an outstanding educator, but who was also the soul of integrity. And we all knew it.
Having learned all there was to know I left school at 13 and a half, and got a job at a dentist’s on the South Coast. It was there I discovered the hell of loneliness. The family kept a maid, and during the month I was there it became clear she would in a short time be adding at least one to the general population. There was, of course consternation in the camp and she received her marching orders. She was also accused of influencing my resignation. She may have been guilty of loving not wisely but too well. She was, however, as innocent of my forsaking dentistry as the infant yet to be. My boss came one day into the workroom and noticed a row of teeth on a shelf. He asked what the heck they were, and I innocently explained that they were extractions I had saved up for use as false teeth. I have thought since that he owed me something for the laughs he must have got at his club. After fifty years in Australia I still smile at the memory.
Geo. A Miller
260 St. Kilda Street.
Brighton, Melbourne,
Victoria
AUSTRALIA
George is listed in the Census of 1891 and 1901 in Ringmer Sussex.
He immigrated to Fremantle, WA, Australia, arriving on 25 March 1913 aboard the "Gneisenau", accompanied by his brother Frederick.
Frederick did not stay in Western Australia and returned to England not long after arriving.
On 18 March 1913 when George Ambrose was 23, he married Eliza Florence (Lylie) FOSTER, aged 32, a milliner, and a spinster, in the Baptist Church, Fremantle, WA, AUSTRALIA.
They were married by Rev. A Edgar Anderton Baptist Minister, and the witnesses were Hubbard and Isabella Anderton. In the WA marriage registers she states her name to be Eliza.
Her "usual" residence at the time of her marriage to George was noted to be at Hazeley House, Lyndhurst Road, Worthing, England.
Eliza Florence (Lylie) FOSTER was born in Worthing, SUSSEX, ENG, on 27 November 1880, the daughter of William FOSTER (abt 1844-25 Apr 1918) & Eliza GOBLE (abt Sep 1848-aft 1901).
She is first listed in the 1881 British Census at 44 Chapel Street Broadwater, Sussex ENGLAND aged 4 months. In 1891 she is listed as a scholar living in Worthing with her father William, mother Eliza, sister Mary and Maude Alice.
Lylie's Membership Card of Young People's Society of Christian Endeavour dated 17 February 1897 has her signature Lylie Foster and the address is given as Hazeley House Lyndhurst Road Worthing.
The 1901 British Census lists her at 1 Providence Terrace Lyndhurst Road Worthing, Sussex ENGLAND aged 20 with parents, and sisters Mary and Maude and her name given as Lylie and her occupation is that of a drapers assistant.
On a postcard sent to her by a friend on 19 August 1909 her address is that of Langleigh Lodge Ilfracombe in Sussex.
She arrived on 17 March 1913 at Albany WA on the White Star Line vessel "Persic" embarking from Liverpool. On the Shipping Passenger Arrivals from Overseas Albany WA 1900-1925, she is listed as Lylie Foster, aged 32.
Lylie had emigrated from Liverpool in England aboard the "Persic" and arrived in Albany, WA, AUST, on 17 March 1913, just 2 days before her marriage to George. She then travelled directly to Freemantle, which was quite an ardous journey at that time.
I am given to understand that George and Lylie were both members of the same church and attended church group functions at the same time.
After their marriage they resided at 14 Stanley Street Freemantle in 1913 and later at "Ringmere" Victoria Road East Freemantle in 1914.
Eliza or Lylie changes her name in various records. Later at the birth of Gwenyth in 1916 - her mother's name is given as Eliza.
George's occupation from various records is listed as a salesman in 1912, an agent in 1913, life assurance supt in 1916, traveller in 1920, insurance inspector in 1946,and finally as an insurance representative at his death in 1974.
They had the following children:
i. Gwenyth Foster (Nin) (1916-)
ii. Joan Foster (1920-1995)
The Miller family later resided at 121 Ragland Road North Perth where their daughter Gwenyth was born in 1916. They later moved from Western Australia around 1918 and took up residence at 3/260 St. Kilda Road Brighton VIC, opposite Royal Brighton Yacht Club.
Lylie's age is stated at the birth of their daughter Joan is 35 years but this age is incorrect.
Eliza Florence (Lylie) MILLER after a short illness died in Higginbotham St, Brighton, VIC, AUST, on 8 April 1930; she was only 49. Her cause of death was noted as that of Carcinoma Mammae (years 1/0), metastasis of lung (months), and heart failure (days) 65. She was buried in New Melbourne Cemetery, on 10 April 1930.
Sadly their two daughters, Gwen and Joan, were only aged 10 and 14 at the time of their mother's death. George and the girls continued to live at 260 St Kilda Street Brighton for some years.
It is interesting to note that Porge did not ever own property.
George Ambrose MILLER died at home at the residence of his daughter, Gwenyth and her husband Gordan Grant, at 6 Gramatan Avenue, Beaumaris, VIC, AUST, on 14 Ocober 1974; he was 85. His cause of death was noted as that of Myocardial infraction - 30 minutes, myocardial infarction - months. His ashes were scattered.
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