Collie NSW
1702
45th Battalion,
Tooraweenah Kookaburra
RTA 15.5.1919
Lieutenant Arthur Maeford Mills 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. He stated his previous experience was with the 9th Light Horse CMF. Arthur’s father was deceased, so his mother, Emma Jane Mills was his next of kin. 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, religion Church of England and no distinctive marks.
Arthur trained at Bathurst until he embarked at Sydney on HMT Ceramic on April 14, 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 May 4, 1917, where he remained until March 1919, except for 3 weeks Leave in England.
On June 8, 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 June 18, 1917 His good mate, (and fellow Kookaburra), George O’Connor was killed on June7, 1917 and Arthur mentioned George on this anniversary every year until his own death. In July 1918, he was in hospital with pleurisy and then influenza. Arthur was court-martialled in Boulogne for drunkenness while on active service. He pleaded guilty and he was severely reprimanded in June 1918.
Arthur was promoted to Sergeant in September 1917 and Lieutenant in September 1918.
He left France in March 1919 to commence his journey back to Australia on the Yperunga, arriving in Melbourne o July 5, 1919 then by train to Sydney. On August 21, 1919 his appointment was terminated.
Lieutenant Arthur Maeford Mills was issued with the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.