MILLER, Walter James
| Service Number: | 1970 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 16 June 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 17th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Cassilis, New South Wales, Australia, 1880 |
| Home Town: | Cassilis, Upper Hunter Shire, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Estate agent |
| Died: | Cassilis, New South Wales, Australia, 11 July 1922, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Cassilis Catholic Cemetery, New South Wales |
| Memorials: | Cassilis Memorial Gates |
World War 1 Service
| 16 Jun 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1970, 17th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 9 Aug 1915: | Involvement Private, 1970, 17th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '12' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Runic embarkation_ship_number: A54 public_note: '' | |
| 9 Aug 1915: | Embarked Private, 1970, 17th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Runic, Sydney | |
| 29 May 1918: | Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 1970, 17th Infantry Battalion |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Walter James Miller was the son of John and Catherine Miller, of Mount Miller, Cassilis, New South Wales.
His younger brother, 2203 Pte. Joseph Thomas Miller 19th Battalion AIF died of wounds in France on 16 April 1917, aged 27.
Walter joined the 17th Battalion in June 1915 and landed on Gallipoli 21 October 1915, quite late in the campaign. He was evacuated to Egypt with bronchitis only nine days later.
He served in France for much of 1916, until evacuated to England with myalgia during late 1916. He never returned to the front and was treated for rheumatism throughout 1917. He was returned to Australia during February 1918.
He died at his home in Sydney on 11 July 1922. The Mudgee Guardian reported on his death, “Returning after the armistice was signed, he married Miss Nellie Austen, of Arncliffe, and took up civil duties. His health gradually gave way as the result of being gassed, and after a long and painful illness, extending over some years, the end came at the age of 42 years. Prior to enlisting he was for some years in the tram-way service attached to the Waverley depot. His remains were brought to Cassilis and interred in the R.C. cemetery in the presence of a large gathering of friends. He was accorded a military funeral, and several of his old Digger comrades in uniform acted as pall bearers. He was the first returned soldier to be buried locally. A brother, the late Private J. T. Miller, was killed in action in 1916 at Bullecourt, two sons of Mr. John Miller thus giving their lives for their country.”