Sapper Frederick Charles Miller

SAPPER FREDERICK CHARLES MILLER

2763 – 1st Tunnelling Company

Frederick Charles Miller was born at Lakes Creek, near Rockhampton, Queensland on December 15, 1893 son of David and Mary (nee) Miller.

At the Recruiting Depot in Rockhampton on January 18, 1916 the twenty-two year old labourer passed the medical examination as fit for active service and Attestation Forms were completed. Personal details given were his height of 169cms (5ft 6½ins) and weight 63.6kgs (140lbs) with a chest measurement of 92cms (36ins). Complexion was dark with grey eyes and black hair. His religion was Presbyterian. Next-of-kin was his mother Mrs Mary Miller of 94 Albert Street, Rockhampton.

At the Enoggera camp, Brisbane, Qld on January 24, 1916 he commenced basic training as a Private until February 23. He was transferred on March 6 to the Mining Corps Depot for further instruction until April 1 when he joined the Miners’ training camp at Seymour, Victoria in time for their departure for the front a few days later. Assigned to the 3rd Reinforcements for No. 2 Company his regimental number was 2763 in the rank of Sapper.

Eighty members of the Reinforcements departed on transport HMAT A14 Euripides from Melbourne, Vic on April 4, 1916. Their voyage terminated at the Suez where the men were transhipped at Alexandria on the City of Edinburgh and disembarked on May 17, 1916 at Marseilles, France. On June 1, 1916 they marched into B. Depot at Etaples and taken on strength on June 23, 1916.

Two days later Sapper Miller was attached to the 1st Tunnelling Company.

He went sick on July 29, 1916 to the 139th Field Ambulance with P.U.O. (Pyrexia (Fever) uncertain origin) then sent to the 2nd Midlanders’ Regiment Casualty Clearing Station on August 1 and two days later went to the 30th General Hospital diagnosed with Valvular Disease of the Heart. He was discharged on August 8 and after three days entered the 1st Aust. Divisional Rest Depot. On August 29 he marched out to the 1st Aust. Divisional Base Depot and a month later was taken on strength with the 1st Tunnelling Company.

He went sick to the 6th London Field Ambulance on December 19, 1916 to the 47th Divisional Rest Station with Albuminuria proceeding to the 17th C.C.S. the next day.

Transferred on December 30 he entered the 13th General Hospital in Boulogne diagnosed with Endocarditis and was conveyed on A.T.28 to Havre departing for England on the Hospital Ship Princess Elizabeth on New Year’s Day 1917. He was admitted to the 2nd Southern General Hospital on January 3, 1917 with severe endocarditis and was a patient for fourteen days treatment.

His mother received these war service telegrams advising of her son’s illness:

Mrs Miller also received the official written notice advising on January 15 that her son was admitted to the 2nd Southern General Hospital on 3/1/17 suffering from Endocarditis, severe, the last word being crossed out on Base Records copy. She was also advised of the address to correspond to him and to write the word “SICK” prominently in red to ensure a speedy delivery.

He appeared before a Medical Board at the 3rd Aust Auxiliary Hospital at Dartford on January 25, 1917—his statement of case reads:

Disability: Pre-existing V.D.H. [Valvular Disease Heart]

Usual occupation: Butcher

Essential facts: Rheumatic Fever as a child but was able to handle heavy mutton at

his trade. Noticed slight dyspnoea [breathless on exertion] on transport from Australia in April, 1916 but did not go sick until the end of May. He was twice in camp hospital for a week but then felt better & returned to duty. In July was sent as far Boulogne (13th G.H.) where he states he was marked Permanent Base but kept his papers and returned to his unit. Finally evacuated on 6/12/16 on a/c of weakness, dizziness etc. which he could not work off.

Caused by: Pre-existing Aggravated by Active Service

Present condition: Pale & dyspnoeic

Well marked systolic murmur in mitral area transmitted into axilla.

Murmur also marked in aortic area. No apparent cardiac enlargement. Urine: at present clear. Looks like a chronic brights.

Finding: Permanently unfit for general service & temporarily for base duty.

After thirty-seven days in hospital was discharged to furlough on January 31 and returned on February 15, 1917. Six days later on February 21, 1917 Sapper Miller left the 3rd A.A.H. in Dartford and was discharged to the No. 2 Depot at Weymouth where he was examined by a doctor at Westham camp hospital on March 4, 1917 who gave the following notes on his case:

Organic Valvular (aortic and mitral) disease of long standing.

Well known before enlistment.

Permanently unfit for all military service

Service has not injured him.

He was transferred to the No. 2 camp at Weymouth where he remained until he left for Devonport, England. There he boarded the transport H.T. Themistocles on April 6, 1917 to return to Australia for discharge due to medically unfit. His berth for the voyage was a hammock and his condition remained unchanged during the voyage. The ship docked in Sydney, NSW (2nd M.D.) on July 4, 1917 then he left for Brisbane, (1st M.D.)

He entered the 6th Aust General Hospital at Kangaroo Point, Brisbane on July 6 remaining under treatment for a loud mitral murmur until July 31, 1917. The medical board found V.D.H. aggravated by service although pre-existing and recommended discharge on a pension due to incapacity of ¼ percent.

Military Discharge was received in Brisbane (1st M.D.) on August 13, 1917 due to medical unfitness. He returned to 94 Albert Street, Rockhampton, Qld.

He was granted a pension of £1 per fortnight as from August 14, 1917 and this was increased to £3 per fortnight as from November 1, 1917 as his health failed.

Frederick Charles Miller passed away aged 26 years on September 26, 1920 and the following notices appeared in the Rockhampton Morning Bulletin on Tuesday September 28, 1920:

The British War Medal (14038) and the Victory Medal (13822) were issued to his mother for service of her son Sapper 2763 Frederick Charles Miller, 1st Tunnelling Company.

His grave is unmarked in number 1986 in Presbyterian section 7 of the South Rockhampton Cemetery. Sapper Miller’s and other Commonwealth War Plaques are mounted in the centre of the cemetery on a special marker.

A plaque bearing his name and service is also located in the Garden of Remembrance at Pinnaroo Lawn Cemetery, Bridgeman Downs, Brisbane, Qld in Row G on Wall 2.