Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

My father Maxwell Andrew Miller enlisted with the Australian Army at Paddington Sydney on 11th August 1941, he was 20yrs and 3 months. His mother had sadly died only a month earlier on 24th July. Dad served in the Middle East as part of 2/7th Australian Field Regiment RAA, 9th Division. Max completed his army training at the Ingleburn Military Camp in NSW on 18/10/1941. His unit was deployed to the Middle East on H.M. Hospital Ship 'ABA' Nov 1941. The ship arrived at Kantara Harbour in Egypt on the Suez Canal  Dec 1941.
The troops then travelled by train to the camp in Qastina Palestine.  My father trained here as a Gunner for 4 months using the 18-pounder guns and howitzers. The 9th Div moved several times thought the ME for both R&R and military engagement. After being stationed at Mersa Matruh in Egypt the AIF were sent to the western desert to help fight against German & Italian troops who had reached El Alamein in Egypt. The 9th Div held this  area for nearly 4 months. However during the main offensive in Oct 1942 at El Alamein, my father's gunner unit suffered a direct hit killing all but two of the soldiers. Dad was taken to the field hospital with multiple schrapnel wounds, and later declared MU for service. He returned to Sydney Aust on the hospital ship the Netherlands 1/3/1943 and was officially discharged 3/5/43. 
Dad preferred to work outdoors after the war and became a carpenter rather then continue employment with the PMG. He moved to Qld, married, and had 6 children.
Unfortunately he suffered badly with PTSD after the war and died following a Stroke  aged 69 yrs 7months on 8th Dec 1990.