John Edgar (Johnny) MILLER

MILLER, John Edgar

Service Number: SX7343
Enlisted: 1 July 1940, Adelaide, South Australia
Last Rank: Private
Last Unit: 2nd/48th Infantry Battalion
Born: Marree, South Australia, 12 August 1914
Home Town: Unley, Unley, South Australia
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Foundry hand
Died: Killed in Action, Egypt, 22 July 1942, aged 27 years
Cemetery: El Alamein War Cemetery
Plot XVI Row F Grave 16. , El Alamein War Cemetery, El Alamein, Marsa Matruh, Egypt
Memorials: Adelaide WW2 Wall of Remembrance, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Marree War Memorial Area
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World War 2 Service

1 Jul 1940: Enlisted Private, SX7343, Adelaide, South Australia
1 Jul 1940: Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Private, SX7343, 2nd/48th Infantry Battalion
22 Jul 1942: Involvement Private, SX7343, 2nd/48th Infantry Battalion, El Alamein
Date unknown: Involvement

‘He died as he lived, a soldier and a man’

John was born in Marree on the 12th August 1914 to Edgar Ernest and Mary McAuley Miller.
He had a foster mother, Caroline Langkow, a widow, who had a son, Oscar who had a physical handicap. In her later years, she suffered several accidents including being struck by a motor lorry as she crossed Unley Road, resulting in being taken to the Adelaide Hospital to be treated for head abrasions and shock. Three years later, Caroline was again hospitalised with severe burns to her face and chest. She had been discovered unconscious in her back yard at Albert Street in Parkside. This was the second time as she had suffered burns in the previous year. The burns happened as Caroline used kerosene-dampened sawdust to fuel her stove, which then erupted as she applied a match, resulting in her clothing catching fire. The first incident resulted in Caroline spending more than three months in hospital. In the second incident, Oscar’s lack of mobility prevented him helping her, despite having heard her screams, the News of January ’40 reported.
When John joined the workforce, he became a foundry hand with the Hume Pipe Company which initially created pipe joints made of cast iron and steel pipes. In his latter years the company was successfully experimenting with jointing cement pipes.
A close friend, Wally Pryor married Edna Elizabeth Cassidy on the 3rd February 1940 at Colonel Light Gardens Methodist Church in an evening ceremony. John was chosen to be his groomsmen. The two close friends would later enlist together. Within four months and the intensifying of WWII, as a 25-year-old John enlisted to serve at a similar time to a 24-year-old Wally, SX7338 from Rose Park on the 1st July ’40 with the two ensuring that both were allocated to the same Battalion, the newly formed 2/48th. John’s number was SX7343.
This was five months after Caroline’s horrific burns accident. John nominated his aunt Kate Pickering as his next of kin. Whilst on pre-embarkation leave, Private John Miller became engaged to Rose During from Evandale, an event they celebrated with an announcement in the Advertiser.
Initial days of enlistment were spent in the cold of the Pavilions, now part of the Royal Adelaide Showgrounds, before John and other new enlistees headed to Woodside for their preliminary training.
Following pre-embarkation leave John and his fellow 2/48th Battalion, embarked on the Stratheden for the Middle East, on the 7th November 1940 and disembarked on the 17th December. His 2/48th Battalion completed a few months training in Cyrenaica before going to Tobruk at the start of April 1941 where the dust, flies, heat, minimal water supplies and constant bombardment were quite a challenge to these fresh new enlistees.
The two, Wally and John also formed a close bond with Lionel Van der Brik (Vandy) SX7279 and Frederick MacNamara (Maccy) SX7279 from Kingston in the South East. 23-year-old Lionel and 27-year-old Frederick were killed in action on the 17th April, 1941 during ferocious fight to retain Hill 209. It was subjected to ‘intense mortar, machine gun and artillery fire, necessitation the evacuation of the observation post and forcing B Company to keep under cover. “All through this attack B Company was subjected to accurate mortar fire. Privates L.H. Van den Brink and F. McNamara were killed instantly when a mortar bomb made a direct hit.’ This loss was very personal to John and Wally who posted a tribute to their friends:
Advertiser Friday 17 April 1942, MacNAMARA.—VAN DEN BRINK. —In memory of our pals. Maccy and Vandy, killed in action at Tobruk, on April 17 1941. —Always remembered by their pals, Wally Pryor and Johnnie Miller. A.I.F. abroad.

Conditions continued to be tough. In John Glenn’s book, Tobruk to Tarakan, he records an incident relayed by Sergeant Wally Prior where 10 Platoon attacked and eliminated a sniper’s post which “apparently upset the Germans, for they bombarded us with mortar and artillery in the heaviest artillery bombardment I have seen. The concrete of the pit became a shambles and we had no option but to withdraw to the underground room. The bombardment lasted for an hour and three-quarters, and the remaining posts were lifted out of the ground. The noise was terrific. Great pieces of cement and dirt filled the entrance to the bomb-proof shelter, blocking us in so that we were soon suffering from lack of air. Still the earth shook as shell after shell fell on the post and filled the air with dust and the smell of cordite. We dipped towels in the reserve water and in pitch darkness wrapped them round our faces and waited, for what seemed like hours, for the shelling to stop. By another strange coincidence one of the last shells to land on the remains of Post S9 freed the entrance and allowed the light and air to come in. Among those in the post with me were Johnnie Miller, Wally Davis, Harry Davis, Roy Weir and Harold Gogel.”

Three months after the deaths of Maccy and Vandy and just over two years after enlisting, John was killed in action on the 22nd July, 1942. He was 27 years old. His battalion was attempting to capture West Point in a dawn attack. In his book, ‘Tobruk to Tarakan’, John G. Glenn described the ferocious encounter;
‘When the troops were well forward of the start-line they came under terrific fire from shells and mortars from the front and left and suffered heavy casualties. With the slow deliberate movement of perfectly trained soldiers both companies continued the advance in perfect formation, over ground that trembled and erupted with vicious explosions. Through this, sometimes obscured by the smoke and dust, the men moved, and, as they advanced, the fire kept place with them, leaving behind the still shapes of fallen men among the camel bush and sand.’ Initially the men were buried in the field.
By August the horrific new was relayed to his aunt, Kathleen Gloria and foster mother, Caroline that John had been killed in this action. The announcement in the Advertiser erroneously suggested John was killed on his birthday. ‘Mrs. Langkow, of Albert street, Parkside, and aunt, Mrs. Pickering, of Myponga, have been informed that Pte. J. E. Miller (28) was killed in action on August 10 (his birthday) in Egypt. Before his enlistment two years ago he was employed by the Hume Pipe (Aust.) Co., Ltd. He served eight months in Tobruk, then in Palestine and Egypt.’
In April ’43 the remains of the soldiers were interred in the El Alamein War Cemetery with John in Plot XVI Row F Grave 16. He is with his fellow soldiers from the 2/48th who died on the same day. These included SX13018 21-year-old Private Colin Hanley, SX7979 22-year-old Corporal Lindsay Evans, SX11052 22-year-old Private Walter Shane, WX10144 19-year-old Private Albert Lang, SX7948 24-year-old L/Sgt K Trenorden, SX9316 28-year-old Private Arthur Phillips and SX8670 26-year-old Corporal William Glennon. Where other families nominated a tribute for the headstone of their fallen soldier, sadly there was neither an emblem or tribute for John’s.
However John continued to be remembered, especially by his loyal friend Wally Prior, who rose to become a Captain, and his family.
Advertiser Thursday 22 July 1943, MILLER.—In memory of Johnnie, killed in action July 22. 1942. Amidst the din of battle of deadly war and strife he nobly did his duty and gave his life.— Inserted by pal Wally Pryor. A.I.F. MILLER —in loving memory of Johnny, who was killed in action on July 22. 1942. Deep in our hearts a memory is kept of one we will never forget.—lnserted by Lieut. Pryor, Edna, Billy. MILLER in memory of Johnnie, killed in action July 22. 1942. Not just today, but every day. in silence we remember.—lnserted by Mrs. Pryor and Nell MILLER. —In loving memory of John, killed in action on July 22. 1942 Egypt. Deep In our hearts a memory Is kept of one we loved and never will forget.—lnserted by Elva and Harold.
Mail Saturday 22 July 1944, MILLER, — In loving memory of John, killed in action Middle East, July 22. 1942. Ever remembered by Elva and Ossie.
Advertiser, Saturday 22 July 1944, MILLER.—In memory of Johnnie, Killed in action July 22. 1942. He died as he lived, a soldier and a man. —Remembered always by your pal Wally Pryor. Lieut. ret. MILLER.—In memory of Johnnie, killed in action. July 22. 1942. life moves on, but memory clings forever. — Remembered always by Mrs. Pryor and Nell
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion

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