Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland 

Died on this date – 28th April…… Harold Herbert Miller was born at Ravensworth, Patrick Plains, New South Wales on 9th May, 1880.

He joined NSW Government Railways in December, 1910; resigned in February, 1911 & was re-employed from end of September, 1912. He was released to join the Australian Expeditionary Forces.

Harold Herbert Miller enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 28th August, 1914 as a 34 year old, single, Locomotive Hand from West Tamworth, NSW.

On 20th October, 1914 Private Harold Herbert Miller, Service number 777, embarked from Sydney, NSW on HMAT Euripides (A14) with the 4th Infantry Battalion “F” Company.

He embarked from Alexandria on 5th April, 1915 on Troopship Lake Michigan to join M.E.F. (Mediterranean Expeditionary Force).

Private Miller was admitted to No. 15 Casualty Clearing Station at Gallipoli on 30th July, 1915 with Influenza. He was transferred to Fleet Sweeper & admitted to 16th Casualty Clearing Station at Lemnos on 30th July, 1915. He was transferred to Hospital Ship Devanha on 2nd August, 1915 & disembarked at Malta where he was admitted to St. George’s Hospital on 5th August, 1915 with Diarrohea. Private Miller was transferred to St. Patrick’s Hospital at Malta on 21st August, 1915. He embarked from Malta on 21st October, 1915 on Hospital Ship Regina De Italia for England.

On 30th October, 1915 Private Miller was admitted to 5th London General Hospital at Lambeth, London, England.

Mrs P. Miller was advised by Base Records on 15th November, 1915 that her son Private H. H. Miller, was in Hospital in London, England suffering from Shock.
Private Miller was written up for a Crime on 31st January, 1916 at Weymouth – Absent without Leave from Tattoo on 27th January, 1916 till 9.30 pm on 28th January, 1916 while posted at Australian Base Depot at Monte Video, Weymouth, Dorset, England. He was awarded a forfeiture of 2 days’ pay.

He was returned with No. 17 Draft to rejoin M.E.F. (Mediterranean Expeditionary Force) from England. (no date recorded) & was posted to Overseas Base at Ghezireh on 14th February, 1916.

Private Miller rejoined his Unit at Serapeum on 6th March, 1916.

On 23rd March, 1916 Private Miller embarked from Alexandria on Troopship Simla & disembarked at Marseilles, France on 30th March, 1916.

Private Harold Herbert Miller was to be Lance Corporal from 21st April, 1916 while posted in France.

Lance Corporal Miller was admitted to 2nd Australian Field Ambulance on 28th June, 1916 then transferred to 1st Australian Casualty Clearing Station on 29th June, 1916. He was transferred to Ambulance Train on 30th June, 1916 & admitted to 25th General Hospital, Dannes, Camiers the same day with Cystitis. Lance Corporal Miller was transferred to No. 1 Convalescent Depot at Boulogne, France on 3rd July, 1916 & was discharged to Base Details on 27th August, 1916. He was posted to Australian Base Depot at Etaples, France on 28th August, 1916.

On 12th September, 1916 Lance Corporal Miller was admitted to 26th General Hospital at Etaples, France with Synovitis Knee. He was transferred to Hospital Ship Brighton at Calais, France on 1st October, 1916 for England & was admitted to 3rd Northern General Hospital at Sheffield, England on 1st October, 1916 with Myalgia.

He was marched out to Tidworth on 18th October, 1916 & was taken on strength of No. 1 Command Depot at Perham Downs, Wiltshire, England on 19th October, 1916 from Hospital. He was granted furlough from 20th October, 1916 & was marched in to No. 1 Command Depot at Perham Downs on 4th November, 1916 from furlough where he was medically classified as B1A.

Lance Corporal Miller was transferred to No. 4 Command Depot at Wareham, Dorset on 8th November, 1916 & on 30th November, 1916 he was medically classified as B1 A3 (fit for Overseas Training Camp in 2 – 3 weeks).

He was written up for an Offence while posted at Wareham – AWL (Absent without Leave) from midnight on 16th December, 1916 till midnight on 26th December, 1916. He was reprimanded by Major G. W. Show on 29th December, 1916 & forfeited 10 days’ pay.

On 28th December, 1916 Lance Corporal Miller was medically classified at No. 4 Command Depot, Wareham with the comment “now quite allright…B1 A _” He was marched in to Infantry Draft Depot at Perham Downs, Wiltshire on 17th January, 1917. He was marched out on 17th March, 1917 & was marched in to No. 1 Command Depot at Perham Downs, Wiltshire on 19th March, 1917.

A Medical Report was completed on Lance Corporal Harold Herbert Miller on 21st March, 1917 where his disability was listed as Debility. His Debility had originated in France & England in 1916. “He has lately become very weak, has lost weight, and feels unable to carry on. He suffered from Shellshock on Gallipoli & again in France, and was evacuated with weak bladder in Oct 1916. He has had indigestion for years…..”
Lance Corporal Miller’s present condition was listed as “he is 37 years of age, is anaemic, weak and Debilitated. His pulse is very weak & feeble, increased in rate. He is tender over the abdomen, but there is no palpable neoplastic mass.” The Officer in charge of the medical case recommended that Lance Corporal Miller be discharged as permanently unfit. The Medical Board Finding – Temporarily unfit for General Service for more than six months and unfit for Home Service. He was marched out on 24th March, 1917 & was marched in to No. 2 Command Depot at Wareham, Dorset on 24th March, 1917.

Lance Corporal Harold Herbert Miller was to be returned to Australia & embarked from England on 27th April, 1917 on board H.M.A.T. Themistocles (A32).

He died at 12.45 on 28th April, 1917 on board H.M.A.T. Themistocles (A32) (the day after he embarked) from Haemorptysis and Heart Failure. His body was sent to Military Hospital, Devonport, England while waiting for his funeral to be organised.
Lance Corporal Harold Herbert Miller was buried in Efford Cemetery, Plymouth, Devon, England where 48 other WW1 Australian War Graves are located.

Harold Herbert Miller is also remembered on his 17 year old sister’s headstone in Tamworth General Cemetery, NSW. She died as a result of an unknown accident in 1913 – “One of the other theories advanced is that when the deceased was taking her clothing from a drawer the revolver might have fallen out and exploded.”

2 younger brothers also enlisted:
Private George Alphonsus Miller, 194, 13th Battalion – wounded at Gallipoli on 30th April, 1915 - GSW to right Arm – amputated.

Returned to Australia per Runic on 7 November, 1915. Medically discharged from Australian Imperial Force on 18 April, 1916.

Private Meldon John Miller, 195, 13th Battalion – wounded 3 May, 1915. Returned to Australia 5 July, 1915. Medically discharged from Australian Imperial Force on 16 December, 1915.

(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/g---m.html