Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

From Australian Remembrance Army

Alfred Ernest Mills, an Australian veteran of both World Wars, is among almost 800 previously unmarked WWI veterans’ graves in Lutwyche Cemetery we have now marked with a plaque recognising their service for Australia.

We unveiled his plaque in Lutwyche Cemetery on 20 September 2025, along with a further 161 plaques on the previously unmarked graves of Australian World War One veterans:
See Australian Remembrance Army Facebook page

WWI
Private 4474 27th Battalion. 

WWII
Q222969 Corporal 21st Battalion Volunteer Defence Corps (QLD).

Alfred Ernest Mills was born on 6 September 1888 in Portsmouth, England, and later emigrated to Australia. He enlisted for overseas service with the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) on 10 February 1916 at Adelaide, South Australia. At the time of his enlistment, he was 27½ years old, unmarried, and employed as a station mail driver.

Allocated to the 11th Reinforcements of the 27th Battalion, Mills embarked from Adelaide on 25 March 1916 aboard HMAT Shropshire, proceeding to Egypt and then to England for further training. Shortly after his arrival, his service was interrupted by medical issues. On 26 July 1916, he was admitted to No. 1 Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Harefield suffering from cellulitis of the right thumb, and was subsequently transferred to the 3rd Northern General Hospital at Sheffield. He was discharged at Weymouth on 29 August 1916.

Following his recovery, Mills returned to training and administrative units in England. In early 1917, he was transferred from the 27th Battalion to the 70th Battalion. During this period, he experienced further illness, including admission to the 17th Field Ambulance at Windmill Hill in July 1917 with scabies, from which he was discharged on 18 July 1917. He briefly joined the 79th Battalion before being returned to the 27th Battalion and subsequently posted to the 7th Training Battalion at Rollestone.

Later medical examinations identified defective vision, a condition that increasingly impaired his ability to perform military duties. As a result, he was returned to Australia for discharge, embarking from England on 31 October 1917 and disembarking on 27 December 1917. A Medical Board subsequently found him medically unfit for further service.

More than two decades later, during WWII, Mills again volunteered for service, this time in a home-defence role. On 6 April 1942, at the age of 53 years and 7 months, he enlisted in the Australian Military Forces for part-time duty with the Volunteer Defence Corps (VDC) in North-West Queensland. He was then employed as a janitor and recorded his marital status as married, having wed on 12 June 1923. His permanent address was at Mount Isa Mines, and he confirmed his earlier AIF service with the 27th Battalion.

He was posted to the 2nd Battalion, VDC, a formation composed primarily of older veterans and community volunteers tasked with local defence and security responsibilities. His service continued until 24 August 1944, when he was discharged in accordance with VDC administrative arrangements and wartime manpower policy.

Corporal Alfred Ernest Mills died on 27 May 1960, aged 71, and was interred in Anzac Portion 9, Lutwyche Cemetery, Brisbane.

After decades without recognition at his place of burial, his grave now bears a plaque commemorating his service to Australia — ensuring his name endures among those remembered for their duty and sacrifice. His identity has now been restored.

We have remembered him.
Lest We Forget.