From 1940, Brigadier Miles became Commander Royal Artillery and in charge of the New Zealand Divisional Artillery. The intelligent and forceful Miles built up the strength and morale of the artillery, and his leadership throughout the Greek campaign was solid. He missed the battle of Crete due to ill health and exhaustion, but was soon back in command for the Crusader Offensive. During this operation he was wounded and captured when 6 Field Regiment was overrun near Belhamed in December 1941. In the heat of the action he had joined the gunners, carrying a rifle looking for all the world as though he were going duck shooting.
Taken prisoner, he spent sixteen months incarcerated in Campo PG 12 near Florence, Italy, until he and five other officers (all brigadiers or above) got out through a 40 foot tunnel which had taken six months to dig. Only Brigadier Miles and Brigadier Hargest reached neutral Switzerland, with both receiving a Bar to their DSOs for their exploits.
Aiming to rejoin the war effort, Miles crossed Vichy France in disguise with the help of the French Resistance and reached neutral Spain. On waiting to be transported to Gibraltar, he died in Spain on 20 October 1943 and was buried in the Figueras Municipal Cemetery. He was posthumously appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1944.
“Reggie Miles was an all-round gunner, interested and accomplished in every sphere of gunnery. At all levels and in all units he was admired and respected and when he disappeared it was as if the Divisional Artillery had lost its father”.
W E Murphy
The full medal group of Brigadier Miles is on display in our Medal Repository.
