Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

For a Published Biography see

https://familypedia.wikia.org/wiki/Sydney_Sylvanus_Mills_(1889-1918)

Additional Biography

Early Life

Sydney (Syd) Sylvanus Mills was born at Carrieton, South Australia on the 19th August 1889, the son of Howard Mills and Susan Margaret Jordan.

His father, Howard was a railway guard who worked in various locations around South Australia.

Syd was the eldest of six children according to the familypedia biography (above). Four of his siblings were Vera Velerie (B 1891, Broken Hill, NSW), Harold Hurtle (b 1894, Petersburg, SA), Ileen (or Eileen aka Queen b 1896, Yongala, SA) and Roland Roy (b 1899, Petersburg, SA).

Schooling

Syd attended Primary School at Petersburg. He was a member of the Petersburg Boys’ Brigade and in November 1901 aged 12, he was in Class 3 of the brigade when he was signatory to a letter thanking Dr and Mrs Smythe for giving the boys a picnic.

In June 1904, Syd was one of the banner carriers at the Petersburg Demonstration.

In October 1904, Syd passed three subjects (Geography, English History and Algebra) in the Primary Examinations. He was appointed an Unpaid Monitor at the School until 31st December 1905. He was given a bound volume of Standard Poets on leaving the School on December 1906 to pursue studies in Adelaide.

In 1906 he passed examination in Intermediate Solid Geometry, First Grade Model Drawing and First Grade Model Drawing. Syd attended the Pupil Teacher School (Adelaide High School) and he passed nine subjects (English Literature, English History*, Geography*, Latin, Arithmetic*, Algebra, Geometry, Inorganic Chemistry and Drawing - * with credit) in the Junior Examinations in December 1906. His results made him equal 32nd in the state.

In December 1907, Syd passed eight subjects; English Literature, History, Latin, Arithmetic and Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry*, Physics and Drawing - * with credit) in the Senior Examinations.

Syd became a Senior Cadet while at the Pupil Teacher School and he was appointed a Lieutenant on probation in April 1908.

In March 1909 Syd was appointed a Pupil Teacher at the Hindmarsh School.

He won a prize at the National Rifle Matches in the Military Section, in October 1910.

University

Syd commenced studying at the University of Adelaide in 1910, undertaking studies in the Arts. He passed Intermediate Freehand in June 1911. In December 1911 he was equal first in the elocution examinations at the Elder Conservatorium he also passed the examination in History of the United Kingdom.

He maintained an interest in the Adelaide High School and was Assistant Honorary Secretary of the Old Scholars’ Association in 1912.

Syd continued his involvement in the Cadets and was appointed a Lieutenant in July 1912. He was a member of the Adelaide University Arts Association.

He passed both first and second year Latin in 1912 along with English Language and Literature.

University Sport

Syd played B Grade cricket for the AUCC in the 1911/12 and 1912/13 seasons. Previously while teaching at the Alberton Public School he had represented West Torrens East in B Grade in the 1910/11 season.

In the 1911/12 season, Syd batted on seven occasions for a total of 60 runs with a high score of 17 and an average of 8.5. In September 1912 he was appointed the B Grade Secretary of the club. In the 1912/13 season he also batted on seven for a total of 67 runs and an average of 9.5. His high score was 44 runs.

Career and Family Life

Syd was a pupil teacher at Hindmarsh, Aldgate and Alberton in 1910. He then undertook two years full time studies at the University of Adelaide before being appointed an Assistant Teacher in Charge at the Quorn School for the 1913 year.

Syd gave a recital at St Patrick’s Day celebrations at Quorn in March 1913. By December 1913 he was secretary of the Oval Trust. He also gave elocution and vocal lessons while at Quorn.

Syd played cricket for Quorn in the 1913/14 season, scoring 18 runs and taking 1 wicket for 10 runs in a match against Wilmington in March 1914. He also played for Capowie in a match against Australs in March 1914. He was Honorary Secretary of the Quorn Recreation Ground Trust in 1914.

On the 9th October 1914, Sydney S Mills married Miss Phoebe Harriet Taylor, the daughter of Mrs W Taylor of Pichi Richi, First Street, Quorn in a quiet wedding at St Matthew’s Church, Quorn.

Syd and Phoebe caught the train to Port Augusta shortly after their wedding and Syd commenced his new life as a husband and Head Teacher.

Syd quickly became a member of the Port Augusta West community and was appointed Captain of the Port Augusta West cricket team for the 1914/15 season and Secretary and a registered player of the Port Augusta West Football Club. Syd represented the football club on the trust appointed to control the Port Augusta West Oval.

When Hillary Dighton left Port Augusta West to joined the AIF in July 1915, Syd organised and participated in the musical program given at his farewell

World War I

Syd enlisted in the AIF on the 15th September 1916 aged 26 years and 1 month.

His application for a Commission states that he was 5’6” tall and 142 lbs. He had previously completed two years as Cadet (1906-07) and three years Commission in Cadets (1909-11). He was a Lieutenant in the Senior Cadets, 81st Battalion.

On the 31st August 1915 Syd qualified for rank of rank of 2nd Lieutenant and was appointed to the 15th Reinforcements, 10th Battalion.

Syd embarked on the 9th March 1916 onboard the “Mongolia” from Adelaide landing at Suez, Egypt on the 4th April 1916.

On the 20th May 1916 he left Alexandrina, Egypt onboard the HT “Invernia” and arrived at Marseilles, France on the 26th May 1916.

He was taken on strength of the Australian Divisional Base Depot (ADBD) on the 29th May 1916 at Estaples, France.

On the 13th July 1916 he marched out to join the 1st Australian Entrenching Battalion. At some time in late 1916 Syd wrote the following letter back to student at the Adelaide High School.

In November 1916 a letter was received from Cpl BA Clarke, Headquarters Staff, 24th Artillery Brigade, AIF France giving details of a gathering of Quorn boys. Syd was present at the gathering where the boys didn’t talk about the war but reminisced about evenings at the Quorn Dance Club, singing in Mrs Bruse’s cosy parlour and the exploits of the cricket team in the 1914 season.

On the 2nd December 1916 Syd was promoted to Lieutenant with the 10th Battalion. Sometime in February 1917, Syd received a parcel of smokes from the Quorn Smokes Club and on the 18th February he wrote to thank the club for the variety of good smokes they had sent.

On the 2nd July 1917 Syd was awarded the Military Cross for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty.

A report in the Quorn Mercury on the 13th July 1917 states that Syd was on furlough in England and Ireland after receiving the Military Cross however there is no mention of this furlough in Syd’s service record.

He spent most of August 1917 at the Intelligence and Scouting School, France before returning to his unit on the 25th August.

Syd was gathering troops for an attack on Polygon Wood, near Ypres, Belgium when an enemy barrage hit his position. He was declared as missing in action on the 20th September 1917.

Death

Tragically for Phoebe and the Mills family it took many months for Syd’s fate to be accurately determined by the military. Syd was 28 years of age when he gave his life in the service of his country. Syd’s wife never remarried, she lived at Quorn and died aged 71, on the 2nd August 1956.

On the first anniversary of Syd’s death various tributes from Phoebe and the Mills family were printed in the South Australian newspapers.

The bulk of Syd’s effects were returned to Phoebe per the “Bulla” in June 1919, however one item, a cigarette case, engraved “SS Mills” arrived per the “Beltana” on the 22nd May 1919. The cigarette case had been located in the leather trunk of the late Lieut WFL Dodson, 10th Battalion (who had been declared missing in action on 20/21 September 1917.

Having no known grave Syd is commemorated at the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.

For the complete profile including photographs, newspaper articles, documents and sources prepared by Beth Filmer for the AUFC/AUCC WWI Memorial Project (with assistance from Rob O'Shannassy, Janne Filmer & Kym Beilby) please see the document attached or the Adelaide University site AdelaideConnect at
https://connect.adelaide.edu.au/nodes/view/25766

Extract from the Adelaide University Football Club and Adelaide University Cricket Club document honouring "The Fallen" Anzac Day 2015.

Sydney played with the Adelaide University Cricket Club in the 1911/12 and 1912/ 1913 seasons while a teacher at Hindmarsh and studying for a BA. At the time of enlistment he was a teacher at Port Augusta .

Sydney enlisted on 15th September 1916 and joined the 10th Battalion on 4th August 1916. He was commissioned on 2nd December 1916. For his work on 7th May 1917 at Bullecourt, he was awarded the Military Cross “For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. Under heavy bombardment by the enemy he carried out the work of consolidation. His section of the trench was repeatedly blown in, but with great tenacity and courage he hung on and prevented the enemy regaining the position.” During the Battle of Polygon Wood on 20th September 1917 he was initially posted as missing but subsequently declared to be killed in action.