Sources differ as to whether Miles was born in Trinidad[1] or in Uppingham, England.
Formerly, surgery for rectal cancer was by perineal excision, which was less efficient in removing neoplastic tissue but easier to perform and carried less risks for the patient.
Miles studied the reasons for recurrence following perineal resection and showed that many cases involved the upwards spread of cancer.
Miles perfected this technique over a number of years from 1907, eventually achieving long term remissions and gaining the acceptance of other surgeons.
Miles' operation became the gold standard for surgical treatment of rectal cancer.