MILLER, Keith Alexander Gladstone
| Service Number: | SX17640 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 24 February 1942, Adelaide, South Australia |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 2nd/33rd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Streaky Bay, South Australia, 15 March 1922 |
| Home Town: | Poochera, Streaky Bay, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Farm labourer |
| Died: | Aircraft crash on takeoff, Jacksons Airfield, Port Moresby, PNG, New Guinea, 7 September 1943, aged 21 years |
| Cemetery: |
Port Moresby (Bomana) War Cemetery, Papua New Guinea C1. E. 9. |
| Memorials: | Adelaide WW2 Wall of Remembrance, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Chandada & District WW2 Memorial Trees, Streaky Bay and District Roll of Honour WW2 |
World War 2 Service
| 24 Feb 1942: | Enlisted Adelaide, South Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 24 Feb 1942: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, SX17640, 2nd/33rd Infantry Battalion | |
| 7 Sep 1943: | Involvement Private, SX17640, 2nd/33rd Infantry Battalion | |
| Date unknown: | Involvement |
Tragedy strikes 2nd/33rd Battalion in Townsville while awaiting troop lift flight to Nadzab
The 2nd/33rd returned to Port Moresby in late July in preparation for the operations capture Lae, in New Guinea. On 7 September, while it waited near Jackson's Airfield at '7Mile' near Moresby to be flown to Nadzab, via Tsili Tsili, a fully fuelled and 'bombed up' US B-24 Liberator bomber crashed on take off among the trucks carrying the battalion. Sixty men, mainly from D Company, were killed and 92 injured. This represented a third of the battalion's fatal casualties for the entire war.
The remnants of the battalion were flown to Nadzab on 8 September and subsequently participated in the advance on Lae, which fell on 16 September.
Submitted 7 September 2017 by Steve Larkins
Biography contributed by Madison Lewis-Couzner
Keith Alexander Gladstone Miller was born in Streaky Bay on 15/03/1922. His father was James Henry Miller.
Keith grew up in the Streaky Bay and Poochera districts, on the far west coast of South Australia. Keith had completed primary school and was a farm labourer at the time he enlisted.
Keith enlisted in Adelaide in February, 1942 with the army at 19 years and 11 months old, he was a single man at the time. He reported for duty on 24/2/1942, Keith was then posted to the 48th Battalion in April 1942. Keith became ill with measles from the 26/7 to 2/8 1942 and spent time at the Camp Dressing Station.
Private Miller then briefly spent time with the 108th Anti-Tank Regiment before transferring to the General Details Depot in September 1942. After that he transferred to the New Guinea Force Advanced Reinforcement Depot in November of 1942.
Private Keith Miller embarked from Townsville for Port Moresby on the 1/12/1942. He was then taken on strength to the 2/33 Battalion on the 7/12/1942 and after only a short time, returned briefly to Australia (Canberra) for six months. On 19 July 1943, Private Miller embarked in Townsville again for Pt Moresby with the 2/33 Battalion in preparation for the operations to capture Lae.
Private Keith Miller, aged 21 years was accidentally killed on 7/9/1943, when a fully loaded Liberator bomber crashed among trucks carrying the 2/33 Battalion at Jackson’s Airfield, Moresby. The US bomber was loaded with 4 x 500lb bombs and 2800 gallons of petrol. The plane was noticed to be flying really low when suddenly the port wing apparently tipped one of the branches of a nearby tree, and they hit the tree and crashed. Loud explosions occurred and parts of the plane flew in all directions. In addition to this, petrol was sprayed over a large area and extensive fires occurred. Sixty men were killed and 90 were injured.
Keith was buried in Port Moresby (Bomana) War Cemetery, Papua New Guinea. He is remembered at Adelaide WW2 Wall of Remembrance, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Chandada & District WW2 Memorial Trees and Streaky Bay and District Roll of Honour WW2.
Links
https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=6399408
https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/591935
Click images to start slideshow.