MILLS, William Thomas
| Service Number: | 55862 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 1st to 6th (SA) Reinforcements |
| Born: | Not yet discovered |
| Home Town: | Not yet discovered |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: | Richmond West Adelaide Football Club War Veterans Honour Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 5 Jun 1918: | Involvement Private, 55862, 1st to 6th (SA) Reinforcements, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '20' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: RMS Orontes embarkation_ship_number: '' public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 5 Jun 1918: | Embarked Private, 55862, 1st to 6th (SA) Reinforcements, RMS Orontes, Sydney |
William Thomas Mills
Name: William Thomas Mills
Service Number: 55862
Place of Birth: Launceston, Tasmania
Date of Birth: Not available
Place of Enlistment: Keswick
Date of Enlistment: 28 July 1915 & 1 May 1918
Age at Embarkation: 24( based on 1915 enlistment)
Marital status: Married with 1 child
Next of Kin: Wife – Mrs. H.H. Mills, Marion Rd, Plympton.
Occupation: Labourer
Religion: Roman Catholic
Rank: Private, 2nd General Service Reinforcements
West Adelaide Football Club involvement:
William played 88 games for WAFC from 1910 to 1921. William made his debut on 11 June 1910. The WAFC Annual Reports of 1910 and 1911 highlighted his effective ruck and backline play. The 1919 Report records that William won the WAFC trophy for the Best All-Round player. He was a premiership player in 1911 and Vice-Captain in 1921.
Biographical details:
William was the son of John Mills and Jane Sawley. William’s first period of service was very brief due to a spinal injury. He was hospitalised in Chezireh on 4 January 1916. He was then sent from Suez, Egypt, due to invalidity, to Australia on the Karoola on 20 January 1916 and was discharged from the AIF on 3 March 1916. He re-enlisted on 1 May 1918 and with his unit left Sydney on RMS Orontes on 5 June. William disembarked in Wellington, New Zealand while en route to England. After being treated on board the ship, he was admitted to hospital in Wellington with epilepsy and was discharged as “medically unfit” on 12 July 1918. He died on 25 April 1969.
Source: NAA; B2455; Mills W T; Barcode 7981351.
Submitted 21 October 2023 by christopher collins