World War I Victoria Cross Recipient. He received the award from British King George V on May 30, 1919 at Buckingham Palace, for his actions as a private in the 1/5th Battalion, The Gloucestershire Regiment, British Army, on October 23, 1918, during the Battle of the Selle near Landrecies, France, during the Hundred Days Offensive at end of World War I. Following the outbreak of World War I in July 1914, he joined the British Army and was sent to the Western Front in France where he was wounded and returned to England. Following his recovery, and because of his experience as a miner, he was attached to the Royal Engineers as a tunneller, but was again wounded in action, being the only survivor of fifty men after an explosion in a mine. After recovering, he was sent to the Italian Front before being recalled to France for the final weeks of the war. Iin October 1918 his unit was given the task of clearing part of the Bois l'Eveque close to a mill where they met with stubborn resistance from several enemy machine gun posts, stalling the advance. It was there he performed his act of outstanding heroism for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross. Following the war, he returned home and worked as a miner. During World War II, he served with the Pioneer Corps. He died at the age of 65. His other military awards and honors include the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal (1914-20), the Victory Medal (1914-19 with MiD oakleaf), the War Medal (1939-45). the King George VI Coronation Medal (1937), and the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal (1953). His Victoria Cross and other medals are on display in the Lord Ashcroft Galley at the British Imperial War Museum, London, England. His Victoria Cross citation reads: "For most conspicuous bravery and initiative in attack on the 23rd October, 1918, during the advance against the Bois L'Evêque, when his company was held up by a line of enemy machine guns in the sunken road near the Moulin J. Jacques. Pte. Miles alone, and on his own initiative, went forward, under exceptionally heavy fire, located a machine gun, shot the gunner, and put the gun out of action. Observing another gun near by, he again advanced alone, shot the gunner, rushed the gun, and captured the team of eight. Finally, he stood up and beckoned to his company, who, acting on his signals, were enabled to work round the rear of the line and to capture sixteen machine guns, one officer, and fifty other ranks. It was due to the courage, initiative, and entire disregard of personal safety shown by this very gallant soldier that the company was enabled to advance at a time when any delay would have jeopardised seriously the whole operation."