Collie NSW
1702
45th Battalion,
Tooraweenah Kookaburra
RTA 15.5.1919
Lieutenant Arthur Maeford Mills, known as Gundy, was a 24-year-old labourer of Collie NSW when he enlisted at Mendooran on January 12, 1916 and marched to Bathurst with the Kookaburra Recruitment March. His previous experience was with the 9th Light Horse Citizen Military Forces. His mother, Emma Jane Mills was his next of kin as his father was deceased. The medical examination described him as 5’ 8 1/2” tall; 142lbs (64.4kgs); chest expansion of 35”-37”; fair complexion, blue eyes, brown hair and his religion was Church of England. He had no distinctive marks.
Arthur trained at Bathurst until he embarked at Sydney on HMAT ‘Ceramic’ on 14 April 1916 with the 45th Battalion. They trained in Egypt for two months before embarking for England on the ‘Francona’ in June 1916. Arthur remained at the 12th Training Battalion at Tidworth for twelve months, until he left for France on 4 May 1917, where he remained until March 1919, except for three weeks Leave in England.
Arthur was promoted to Sergeant in September 1917 and Lieutenant in September 1918.
On 8 June 1917 he was wounded in action with a gunshot wound to his hand in the Battle of Messines. Arthur was treated by the 1st NZ Field Ambulance and rejoined his unit on 18 June 1917. His good mate (and fellow Kookaburra), George O’Connor form Collie, was killed on 7 June 1917 and Arthur mentioned George on this anniversary every year until his own death in 1971.
Arthur was in hospital with pleurisy and influenza in June to August 1918. While he was in hospital he was court-martialled for drunkenness while on active service. He pleaded guilty and was severely reprimanded.
Arthur attended Musket School in October 1918 and the war ended shortly after on 11 November 1918.
Arthur left France in March 1919 to commence his journey back to Australia on the ‘Yperunga’, arriving in Melbourne on 5 July 1919 then by train to Sydney. His appointment was terminated on 21 August 1919.
Arthur married Alice Dickinson at Manly in 1932. He died 26 October 1971 and his remains are at the Northern Suburbs Memorial Garden and Crematorium.
Lieutenant Arthur Maeford Mills was issued with the British War Medal and the Victory Cross and is commemorated on the Collie and Gulargambone War Memorials.