Fourth Generation

21. Caroline Jane SMITH was born on 29 Nov 1899 in 4 Grove Cottages, North Road, Norwood, Middlesex.¹⁵ She died on 6 Jun 1976. She was cremated on 15 Jun 1976. On the 1901 census Caroline is known by her middle name, Jane.

When Caroline and Ernest Edward married on 29 October 1919 their son Ernest William was well on the way. To prevent any "scandal" Ernest William was brought up by his Grandfather, William George, and two of his aunts (see notes for Ernest William Thomas Miller). It was not until after Ernest William and Daphne married in 1941 that Caroline got to meet Ernest William. Daphne insisted that she should take a piece of wedding cake to Caroline and this broke the ice and thus Daphne can be is credited with introducing Caroline to her eldest son and thus re-uniting the family.

Caroline visited her son, Ernest and his family, while they lived in Malta. When she came down the steps of the airplane at Luqa a comment was made that, although she had never flown before, she obviously had enjoyed the trip, "Look at her she looks just like a duchess". Ernest sent a telegram back to the UK to let the rest of the family that she had arrived safely and used the words "Duchess has arrived safely" this of course caused "a bit of a stir" had made sure that the telegraph was given top priority.

Caroline Jane SMITH and Ernest Edward MILLER were married on 4 Oct 1919 in Parish of Holy, Trinity, Southall, Middlesex.¹⁶ Ernest Edward MILLER (son of William George MILLER and Emily HERBERT) was born on 29 Mar 1890 in Buckhurst Hill, Chigwell, Essex.¹⁵ He died on 11 Feb 1951 in Hillingdon Hosp, Uxbridge, Middlesex.¹⁷ He was cremated on 19 Feb 1951 in Mortlake Crematorium.¹⁸ During World War 1 Ernest served as Private 202865 Ernest Edward Miller with D Company, 16 Platoon, 2/2 London Regiment, Royal Fusiliers with the British Expeditionary Force in France. He was taken prisoner in March 1918 and was held as a P.O.W. until the war ended in November 1918.

He married the pregnant Caroline Jane Smith on 29 October 1919. To prevent any "scandal" their first child, Ernest William Thomas, who was brought up by his grandfather, William George, and two of his aunts (see Ernest William's own account of events later - Barry).

At some time Ernest is supposed to have tried to become or was an actor in Westcliffe-on-Sea but as yet there is no proof one way or the other.

There is a family account that Ernest once saved a person from an iced over pond. At the time he was living with his wife and five of his chilren in a single room in an end of terrace house owned by a Mrs Hunt. The house is thought to have been next to the Odeon Cinema.This would have been about 1931. The story continues that he was accompanied by a "Bunny" Parlow who is thought to hve got the credit for the act. The actual location of the pond is not precise though it may have been either a water hazard on a nearby golf course or the local Mill Pond.

For sometime before his death Ernest and Caroline lived at 25 Norman Avenue in Southall.

Ernest died on 11 February 1951 of "acute and chronic bronchitis" in Hillingdon Hospital. He was cremated at Mortlake Crematorium on the 19 February 1951 and his ashes were scattered.
Caroline Jane SMITH and Ernest Edward MILLER had the following children:

+34	i.	Ernest William Thomas MILLER BEM.
+35	ii.	Edith May (Mick) MILLER.
+36	iii.	Edward Donald MILLER.
+37	iv.	Joan Ethel MILLER.
+38	v.	Reginald Eric MILLER.
+39	vi.	Ian MILLER.
+40	vii.	Margaret MILLER.
+41	viii.	Roy MILLER.
+42	ix.	Barbara MILLER.
+43	x.	Grace Evelyn MILLER.
+44	xi.	Gwendolen MILLER.
+45	xii.	Geoffrey MILLER.