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World War 1 One ww1 wwII greatwar great 1914 1918 first battalion regiment
Sgt. Henry Millman
British Army 9th Btn. Lancashire Fusiliers
from:Candover
(d.16th August 1917)
Sgt Henry Millman was formerly 5980 Pte East Yorks in Boer War. Ent QSA KSA.
Pte. A J Mills
British Army 2nd Battalion, C Coy. London Regiment
Pte Mills was wounded whilst serving with C Coy. 2nd Battalion, London Regiment.
Pte. Albert Claude Eugene Mills
Australian Imperial Force 1st. Divison Ammunition Column
from:St Kilda, Victoria, Australia
Bert Mills passed away in 1944.
Fus. Alfred Mills
British Army 10th Btn. (The Stockbrokers) Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment)
from:London
Gnr. Alfred Leslie Mills
British Army 106th Brigade (B Battery) Royal Field Artillery
from:64 Cirencester Street, Harrow Road, London.
Alfred Leslie Mills was born in St. Marylebone, London, on 25th April 1896, the son of Alfred and Mary Mills. Following the outbreak of war he enlisted at Mill Hill Barracks on 2nd October 1914 and was posted to No. 4 Depot Royal Field Artillery (Woowich) for basic training as a Driver. He was subsequently posted to 'A' Battery, 106 Brigade on 17th November 1914 and then to 'B' Battery on 26th July 1915. The brigade subsequently entered the French theatre of war on 29th August 1915.
For most of the war Alf continued to serve as a Driver but he was subsequently mustered as Gunner with effect from 16th March 1918. After the Armistice Alf remained with 'B' Battery until 19th April 1919, when he was posted to the 24th DAC (Division Ammunition Column). He finally returned to England via Boulogne on 13th June 1919. Two days later he was officially demobilised at Crystal Palace.
Pte. Archibald Mills
British Army 8th Btn. Machine Gun Corps
from:Stenhousemuir
I have very few memories of my grandfather, Archibald Mills. When he died I was given mementoes of him. I was 3 years old so did not hold any interest. As an adult I started to wonder how he has survived WWI. I knew he had served in the Argyll & Southern Highlanders as I had his dog tag. I also had an other dog tag with MGC stamped on it. To cut the story to the end, I found out from Machine Gun Corps records he had been compulsorily transferred to the MGC. He was taken prisoner during the spring offensive March 1918 and was at Gustrow Camp until his release. No one in the family knew this and I feel my search has only stared to get to know him.
Pte. Archibald Mills
British Army D Coy., 8th Btn. Machine Gun Corps
Apparently, Archibald Mills originally enlisted (or maybe was conscripted ā€“ itā€™s unclear) as No. 21475 in an unknown battalion of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. His birthdate is shown as 3rd January 1898 at Stenhouse. He would have completed his basic military training with that unit, and might have expected to join one of the active service units of the Argylls but instead, between 23rd and 26th of September 1917, he was compulsorily transferred to the Machine Gun Corps.
The MGC had a presence in every brigade of every division serving overseas since the beginning of 1916. At that time, each brigade comprised 4 infantry battalions, each of up to 1,000 men, plus a pioneer battalion, artillery units, a trench mortar company, medical units, Royal Engineers, and Royal Signals. It also had a dedicated machine gun company which took its designation from the brigade in which it served. The company was about 140 strong, fielding 16 Vickers Mk 1 heavy machine guns, manned 6-men to each, plus a transport section of horse- or mule-drawn wagons to bring up fresh supplies of ammunition and spare parts from dumps to the rear of the front line.
The duties of a machine-gun company were: to go forward if the infantry was attacking (usually in the second or third wave) to provide fire against counter-attacks; then to defend at all times the infantry and artillery positions; and finally, in the event that the infantry had to withdraw in the face of attack by the enemy, the gunners were expected to remain to the last, to give everyone else time to get out in good order. Hence, MGC casualties were always on the high side. Not for nothing were they known by the squaddies as The Suicide Club.
There were three brigades in each division and, therefore, three MG companies in each division. In the spring of 1917, the War Office responded to requests to beef up the fire power by sending out a fourth company that would be independent of the brigades and under the direct control of the brigadier, to be used wherever he saw fit.
Archibald underwent a six-week gunnery and tactics course at Belton Park, Grantham and on completion would have been sent out to France, probably by the end of November 1917. He joined No. 218 Company (the "fourth" MG company), which was part of the 8th Division. He may have joined just in time to see his first action at the assault on the Southern Redoubt, Passchendaele on 2nd of December 1917, which marked the end of serious fighting that year, as winter conditions prevented either side from continuing.
All then went fairly quiet, and on 20th of January 1918, in common with other divisions of the Western Front, the four machine gun companies in the 8th Division amalgamated to form the 8th Battalion MGC, which was now about 750 strong and fielding 64 machine guns. The old 218th Company became D Company in the new organization. The Division was to remain in the Ypres sector around Passchendaele until 12th of March 1918, when it was relieved in the line and sent to the Somme sector near Longuenesse. Its strength at that point was 37 officers, 777 other ranks, plus 258 horses and mules. The make-up of the 8th Division was then nine infantry battalions: 2nd Devons, 2nd West Yorks, 2nd Middlesex, 1st Worcesters, 1st Notts & Derbys, 2nd Northamptons, 2nd E. Lancs, 2nd R. Berkshires, and 2nd Rifle Brigade, with 22nd Durhams as Pioneers.
The situation in the Somme sector was disquieting. In March 1918, the Germans had finally knocked the Russians out of the war, forcing an armistice of the Eastern Front. This enabled them to transfer about 1 million battle-hardened troops to the West, which they concentrated in the Somme. The British Army was under-strength there. Political considerations at home had starved the units of reinforcements. There was a general election due and the Prime Minister, Lloyd George, withheld many young trained soldiers in the hope of keeping the electorate on his side. It was a decision which nearly lost the war.
The Germans now outnumbered their opponents at a ratio of about 3:1 and they were about to launch a massive offensive, trying to drive a wedge between the British and French armies, pushing through to the Channel ports and thus knocking Great Britain out of the war before the American Army, now arriving in huge numbers, could tip the balance against them. The 8th Division (with Archibald in D Company, 8th Battalion MGC) was at Harbonnieres, behind the Somme Canal, when the first assaults commenced on 21st of March 1918. All defending divisions were pushed quickly back all along the Somme frontage and by the 29th April the 8th Battalion MGC had lost 23 officers and 410 other ranks. Many of these were initially listed as missing and subsequently found to be POWs. The 8th Division was relieved by the 4th Australian Division.
It was clear that the whole Division was in a very poor state and needed to be rested and strongly reinforced. Along with the 21st, 25th, and 50th Divisions, all in a similar state, the 8th was sent to a "quiet" spot in the French lines farther south in the Aisne sector where a build-up of strength and recuperation could take place. The 8th arrived at Fere-en-Tardenois where they were packed like sardines into French trenches on the ridge of high ground known as the Chemin-des-Dames (The Ladies Road), which the French had taken from the Germans at enormous cost in 1917 and was the cause of the near-mutiny in the French Army.
The British were of the opinion that the positions held were very bad. They were on ground with a river to the rear and there was no strength-in-depth, a tactic used very successfully by the Brits in March/April on the Somme. There were no trenches further back and no reserve artillery points, but the French would not hear of establishing that system - they would not yield a single yard, although they told the British that there was nothing to fear anyway, that it was a very quiet spot! Unknown to the French and British, the Germans had decided to make an all-out effort to break through to Paris since they had been stopped on the Somme, well short of the Channel ports. They also knew the British were "resting" there and had decided to head straight for them, engaging 12 whole divisions.
When the battle started on 27th May 1918, the British units stood no chance. They were quickly overwhelmed and outflanked, and were forced into a headlong retreat in which thousands were killed or taken prisoner. The heaviest blows fell upon the 8th Division, and poor Archy was "in the bag" by the next day, the 28th May 1918. The overall offensive failed after the Germans had captured much ground, but at fearful cost. It would be their last gamble of the war. Fewer than half of the strength of 8th Battalion MGC escaped capture. The POWs from this period were spread among many different camps. Archy was sent to Gustrow Camp, south of Rostock on the Baltic coast.
He was released immediately after the Armistice and arrived back in the UK, at Dover, on 1st of December 1918. All returned POWs were given immediate leave unless they required hospital treatment. Archibald Mills was discharged from the Army on 28 March 1919 and went to Class Z Reserve. That meant that the Army regarded him as fit, and liable for recall in an emergency.
L/Cpl. Blair Wilfred Mills
Canadian Army 1st Canadian Tunnelling Coy.
from:Keremeos, British Columbia
(d.26th Mar 1917)
Pte. Cecil George Mills
British Army 1/6th Battalion London Regiment
from:Finchley, London
(d.18th September 1915)
Cecil Mills was killed in action on the 18th of Sept 1915 aged 19. He is buried at Hospital Farm Cemetery in Belgium. This area had a building used as a dressing station so he probably arrived in a severely injured state and later died of wounds.
Rflmn. Charles Clarence Mills
British Army 18th (London Irish Rifles) Btn. London Regiment
from:Kingsley Green , Haslemere, Surrey
(d.2nd Sep 1918)
Charles Mills was my father's best friend & second cousin. My father received news of his death while also serving on the Somme. His younger brother, unable to serve, due to medical conditions, had to give up his hopes of a career in teaching to enter the family bakery business in order to support the rest of the family.
Editor's Note:- Charles Clarence Mills had previously served in both the 5th and the 8th Battalions of the London Regiment. At the time of his death, the 12th Battalion were involved in the 2nd Battle of Bapaume. He is interred in the Heilly Station Cemetery at Merricourt-L'Abbe.
Charles James Mills
British Army 108th Field Ambulance Royal Army Medical Corps
from:Belfast
(d.24th Jan 1919)
Charles Mills died of wounds received in action on 24th January 1919
Tpr. Charles Alfred Mills
British Army 9th Lancers
from:London
My grandfather, Charles Mills, joined the Army on 14th August 1902. He served with the 9th Lancers in South Africa and India, before being garrisoned at Canterbury (my home town), where he met and married my grandmother. Of his service and life I know very little, as he died when my father was only 4 years old.
He did fight at the Battle of Mons and was wounded and captured on 24th of September 1914, so I can only assume he took part in the Charge at Audregnies. He was shot (in the chest) as part of that brave action. He was a POW for 4 years and 4 months, being released in 1919. After his capture it was some months before his name was listed, so, for all that time my grandmother scoured the casualty lists, hoping the "Missing believed killed in action" would be proved wrong.
He was discharged 23rd of March 1919, as "surplus to requirements, having been wounded in action". The family settled in Canterbury, where surgeons refused to remove the bullet, as it was in too dangerous a position. However, in 1927, he became very ill and died in hospital, after his heart enlarged and burst on the German bullet. He was just 44 years old. The Government insisted his illness killed him, not the bullet, and denied my grandmother a War Widows Pension, leaving her to raise 7 children on her own. It also meant his name would not be shown on the 9th Lancers Memorial, in Canterbury Cathedral, as Died of Wounds. The 9th Lancers Old Comrades Association arranged a full military funeral for him, with a gun carriage supplied by the Royal Horse Artillery, who were garrisoned in Canterbury at that time. He loved being a Lancer.
Drvr. D. Mills
British Army 173rd Brigade Royal Field Artillery
(d.5th November 1916)
Driver Mills was the husband of Elizabeth Livings (formerly Mills), 134 Cumberland Road, Plaistow, London. He is buried in Brentwood (London Road) Cemetery, Grave C.709.
Pte. Frederick Jesse Coster Mills
British Army 54th (East Anglian) Coy Army Cyclist Corps
from:Twickenham, Middlesex,
(d.30th Oct 1918)
Freddy Mills originally joined the Middlesex Regiment at Ealing in 1915 but was transferred to the ACC. And in 1915 found himself aboard ship heading toward Alexandria in Egypt. He was not a well man and soon became dogged with skin problems. Several diagnoses later he was in hospital several times. Eventually, he contracted malaria, which was his final illness. He is buried in Haifa in Israel.
Pte. G. Mills
British Army 2nd Btn. Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry
(d.29th Sep 1915)
Pte. G. Mills served with the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry 2nd Battalion. He was executed for desertion on 29th September 1915 aged 21 and is buried in the Boulogne Eastern Cemetery, Boulogne, France.
Pte. H. Mills
British Army 9th Btn. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
(d.1st Jul 1916)
Sgt. Harry Mills DCM.
British Army 12th Battalion East Surrey Regiment
While clearing my father's estate, I came across a cardboard tube containing 3 papers confirming that Sgt. H. Mills of the 12th Btn, East Surrey Regiment was awarded the DCM on the 22nd November 1918.
One of the papers is the Army Orders, which states all awards given on the said date, the other piece of paper is a small 'certificate' the other is in French and states that this DCM was given by General Gaucher: "under difficult situations, with Soldier Sadler, surrounded an enemy group and captured 20 prisoners, 2 machine guns and an anti-tank gun to the N.E. of Ghelune on the 11th October 1918."
Pte. Henry Mills
British Army 10th Btn. Royal Irish Fusiliers
from:Cootehill, Co Cavan
(d.29th June 1916)
Henry Mills was the son of Mr. J. Mills, of 4, Ardmore Terrace, Cootehill.
He was 17 when he died. He is buried in Ashfield Church of Ireland Churchyard, Co. Cavan, Grave #22.
Fus. Herbert Samuel Mills
British Army 31st Btn. Royal Fusiliers
Little is known about Herbert Samuel Mills (my grandfather) except that he served and survived WW1, however he lost his left arm in an explosion. He is believed to have belonged to the 31st Royal Fusiliers.
Herbert is on the left hand front row, sixth from left.
Herbert Mills Sgt.
British Army Yorkshire Regiment
from:Huddersfield, Yorkshire
Herbert Mills served with the Yorkshire Regiment.
Rfm. J. Mills
British Army 16th Btn. Royal Irish Rifles
from:41, Majestic St., Belfast
(d.21st Jun 1917)
Pte. Joseph James Mills
British Army 15th (London Welsh) Btn. Royal Welsh Fusiliers
My grandfather Joseph Mills joined the London Welsh Battalion of the Welsh Fusiliers on 12th January 1915. The only information I have is that he was wounded in the leg at the Battle of the Somme. He was operated on by a German doctor and then repatriated to England. My mother told me that he had metal plates in his right leg and walked with a really bad limp. I never got to meet my grandfather as he died six years before I was born. My mum said he never talked about the war, but he had to live with the after affects of being wounded and never really got over it.
L/Cpl. Lees Mills
British Army 4th Btn. Grenadier Guards
from:Saddleworth
(d.23rd Mar 1918)
Lees Mills served with the Grenadier Guards 4th Battalion and died on 23rd March 1918.
Pte. Robert Mills
British Army 15th Btn. Royal Irish Rifles
from:68 Joseph Street, Belfast
(d.29th March 1918)
Robert Mills was my great uncle, he is remembered on the Pozieres Memorial. enlisted with his older brother William and younger brother Thomas, the only sons in my great grandfathers family. Thankfully, William and Thomas survived. Robert's body was never found so we have no information how he died. Although I never met him he is always remembered.
Pte Sidney George Mills
British Army 1st Btn. Royal Berkshire Regiment
from:Bath, Somerset
(d.3rd Nov 1918)
Sidney Mills last resting place is Mont Huon Military Cemetery, Le Traport.
Sgt. Thomas Alfred Mills MM
British Army 11th Btn. Royal Sussex Regiment
from:Walsall
Thomas Alfred Mills was born on the 24th of Nov 1895,(his birth was registered 2 Jan 1896) at 13 Mill St. U.D. Walsall, he was the aon of Alfred Thomas Mills, a railway drayman and Hannah Mills, formerly Lowbridge.
During the Great War, Thomas A. Mills, served as No 1739, 39th Division, Army Cyclist Corps. and later 3905 11th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment, as an Acting Sergeant. Thomas was wounded in action, 2nd Battle of the Somme, in April 1918 (exact date unknown). He was awarded the Military Medal, which was gazetted 18.10.1917 in the London Gazette.
These details were sent to me by my sister but we can find no further reference to him. I would of course be very interested to learn more about his service.
Capt. Thomas Henry Lewis Mills
British Army 8th Btn. East Yorkshire Regiment
from:Dudley
(d.14th July 1916)
Pte. W. Mills
British Army North Irish Horse
from:Castleblayney, Co. Monaghan
(d.30th November 1918)
Private Mills was the Son of J. Mills, of Carnaveigh, Aughnamullen, Castleblayney, Co. Monaghan.
He was 20 when he died and is buried in the north-east part of the Ballybay First Presbyterian Churchyard in Co. Monaghan, Ireland.
Rfmn. Walter Mills
British Army 7th Btn. Kings Royal Rifle Corps.
(d.21st Mar 1918)
Pte. Walter "Spud" Mills VC.
British Army 1/10 Battalion Manchester Regiment
from:Oldham
(d.11 December 1917)
On Monday 7th of September 1914 the Battalion received orders to move to Egypt (not France to the disappointment of many) via Southampton and on the Wednesday night left on two trains. The right half of the Battalion went first under the command of Lt Colonel Rye VD and the left half of the Battalion, under the command of Major Bamford followed in the second train. The battalion arrived in Southampton at about noon on Thursday the 10th September 1914 and straight away embarked on HMT Avon which left Southampton that night. Walter Mills was not a regular soldier but he was in the Territorials, the 1st/10th (Oldham) Battalion of the Manchester's and he volunteered to serve overseas.
He was born in June 1894 in Oldham and had married Ellen Britt in 1913. They had a daughter, also called Ellen, born in 1914. His battalion, part of the East Lancashire Brigade, had started training at Bury in August and went out to Egypt in September 1914, with the other Territorials.
His battalion first saw action in May 1915, in the Gallipoli landings. In December 1915 they were evacuated from Gallipoli. Three months later, in March 1916, and they were fighting in France. Almost 2 years later, in December 1917, at the age of 23, Walter would earn his Victoria Cross, at Givenchy.
His citation reads:
"A strong enemy patrol endeavoured to rush our posts after a gas attack which had caused the garrison to be overcome. In spite of being badly gassed himself, he met the attack single-handed, continuously throwing bombs until reinforcements arrived, remaining at his post until the enemy attack had been driven off. Whilst being carried away he died from gas poisoning. It was solely due to his exertions, when his only chance of personal safety lay in remaining motionless, that the enemy was defeated, and the line retained intact."
Page 72 of 102
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