MILEY, Frederick James

Leading Aircraftman, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Service No: 1056802
Died: 26/01/1942
Age: 28

Interred in Bangor Cemetery

Frederick James Miley was born in Duke Street, Athy, on 29th August 1913. He was the son of Robert Miley, a grocer, and his wife Margaret Miley (nee Mansfield).

Fred Miley is recorded on the
Bangor Parish War Memorial
in St. Comgall's Church 

The family moved to Bangor and Fred was educated at Main Street school. Both he and his younger brother William (who also served in the RAF) attended Bangor Grammar School having both won Entrance Scholarships in 1926 – "probably the only case of two brothers winning scholarships together at the same examination" according to their headmaster Maurice Wilkins.

In a biography written by Mr. Wilkins on the death of Fred he said, "They were not boys one could forget — quiet, modest and industrious, of attractive bearing and manners, quick intelligence and brilliant promise. They excelled in all subjects — boys whom it was a real pleasure to have in a class, for the sake of the example they set of good conduct and splendid proficiency."

He enlisted in the RAF shortly after the outbreak of the war and served some time in the Middle East where he contracted an illness. He returned home where he died several weeks later.