Captain Samuel Ernest Goold Mills
- Rank
- Captain
- Service number
- 1183
- Decorations
- Military Cross
- Unit
- 32 Battalion
- Cause of death
- Killed in Action
- Place of death
- Ypres, Belgium
- Date of death
- 25 October 1917
- Age
- 36
- Plaque number
- M64A
- Co-located plaques
- M64 - PTE Samuel Ridler
- Dedicated by
- Family on 16 February 2013
- More information
Biography presented during plaque dedication:
Samuel Ernest Goold Mills, who was better known as Ernie, was the son of Charles William Mills and Eliza Mills (nee Goold). He was born on 11 July 1881 at Dundas near Parramatta in New South Wales and he had a sister, Hannah.
He attended school there and later travelled to the goldfields of Western Australia with his parents, where they settled in the Dundas area near Norseman.
Ernie was a keen cyclist and was often seen riding around the countryside.
In March 1900, when nineteen, he volunteered for the Boer War as Ernest Mills (service number 76) and served in the Western Australian Fourth Contingent of the Imperial Bushmen’s Corps in South Africa until he returned home in August 1901.
In 1908 he married Philippa Ethel Krakouer, who was the daughter of Private Samuel Ridler’s sister. They later lived at Ruby Street, North Perth.
He enlisted with the Australian Imperial Force in Kalgoorlie on 8 April 1915 and commenced training at Blackboy Hill Military Camp, where he was posted to 'D' Company of 32 Battalion.
He attended Officers’ School in June and was promoted to sergeant on 1 August 1915 then to company sergeant major later in the month.
The C and D Companies went to Adelaide and then boarded HMAT Geelong for Suez arriving there in December.
In March, at Tel el Kebir, Ernie was promoted to second lieutenant. In June, they embarked on HMAT Transylvania at Alexandria for Marseilles.
He was wounded in July in an action that saw him awarded the Military Cross and the citation states:
'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in action. Though twice wounded early in the attack he continued firing at his post throughout the night, displaying great personal courage.'
He was in hospital till August and re-joined his unit in France and was promoted to lieutenant. After attending divisional infantry school in England, he was hospitalised with mumps. In March 1917, he returned to his unit and was promoted to captain.
Captain Samuel Ernest Mills MC, service number 1183 of 32 Battalion, was killed in action at Ypres, Belgium on 25 October 1917. He was 36 years of age.
He is interred at The Huts Cemetery, Belgium and in 1925 his wife Phillippa travelled to Europe to view his grave site.
Samuel's plaque sits beside that of his wife's uncle, Private Samuel Ridler of 32 Battalion.
Samuel is cousin to brothers Major John Brier Mills of 6th Battery 2nd Field Artillery Brigade and Second Lieutenant William Checkley Mills of 2 Battalion Yorkshire Regiment (British).