The AIF Project

War service: Egypt, Gallipoli, Western Front

Admitted to 1st Light Horse Field Ambulance, Gallipoli, 7 October 1915 (jaundice); transferred to Gibraltar, 15 October 1915, and admitted to General Hospital (rheumatism); transferred to England, and admitted to 2nd Southern General Hospital, Southmead, Bristol, 6 November 1915; marched into Australian Base Depot, Monte Video, Weymouth, 19 January 1916.

Joined 4th Bn, Serapeum, Egypt, 12 March 1916.

Appointed Lance Corporal, 15 March 1916.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 23 March 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 30 March 1916.

Promoted Corporal, 4 August 1916.

Wounded in action, 15 August 1916 (gun shot wound, right shoulder), and admitted to 2nd Australian Field Ambulance; transferred to 3rd Casualty Clearing Station, 16 August 1916; to Ambulance Train No 29, 17 August 1916, and admitted to 1st Canadian General Hospital, Etaples; transferred to England, 26 September 1916, and admitted to East Suffolk Hospital, Colchester; transferred to 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Harefield, 4 September 1916; discharged to Australian Convalescent Hospital Woodcote Park, Epsom, 9 October 1916; discharged to No 1 Command Depot, Perham Downs, 10 October 1916.

Granted furlough, 11 October 1916; marched into No 1 Command Depot from furlough, 27 October 1916.

Promoted Temporary Sergeant, 1 January 1917.

Admitted to 1st Australian Dermatological Hospital, Bulford, 3 January 1917; discharged, 24 February 1917; total period of treatment for venereal disease: 53 days.

Marched into 1st Training Bn, Durrington, 24 February 1917.

Admitted to Fargo Military Hospital, 13 June 1917 (not yet diagnosed); 16 June 1917; discharged to Depot, 16 June 1917.

Proceeded overseas to France, 16 July 1917, and reverted to Corporal; rejoined 4th Bn, in the field, 31 July 1917.

Promoted Sergeant, 14 October 1917.

Detached as Instructor to Brigade School, 25 November 1917; rejoined Bn, 13 December 1917.

Detached to Brigade School as Instructor, 23 December 1917; rejoined Bn, 30 March 1918.

On leave to United Kingdom, 12 July 1918; rejoined Bn from leave, 25 July 1918.

Wounded in action (second occasion), 23 August 1918.

Died of wounds, 23 August 1918.

Statement, Red Cross File, 2844 Pte G. REGAN, A Company, 4th Bn, 4 March 1919: 'Informant described Miller as about 5 feet 5 or 6 inches high, rather stout, fair complexion, reddish face, aged about 27. Informant states that they both belonged to A. Company. On 23/8/18 the Battalion was in action near Bray. They hopped over about 4.30 or 5 a.m. About 10 a.m. when they had gone forward about 2 or 3 thousand yards and had got all but the last objective, Miller was badly wounded. Informant had been wounded just before and when being carried out, saw Miller being also taken out. Miller was taken to the Battalion Dressing Station and informant who was taken by German Prisoners to another Dressing Station, never saw him again. He heard in Hospital, however that Miller died soon after he reached the Dressing Station. The Battalion captured its final objective. Informant added that Miller was popular with his mates and was at one time his Platoon Sergeant.'

Second statement, 3328 Pte T.J. PARKER, A Company, 4th Bn, 5 March 1919: 'Informant describes Miller as about 5 feet 8 inches, thin and inclined to be ginger haired. At Chirignes we hopped over about 5.15 a.m. when he got hit by a Machine Gun bullet and I helped carry him out - all Stretcher Bearers being killed, and he died in about a couple of hours. I took his property off him and handed it to a B. Company Stretcher Bearer.'

Third statement, 6781 Corporal H. PASFIELD, A Company, 4th Bn, 10 March 1919: 'Informant described Miller as about 5 ft 9 in. high, medium build, rather red complexion, aged about 25-30. A Scotchman. Informant states that they both belonged to A. Company. On 23.8.18 the Battalion was about 200 yards from Choignelles in front of Proyart in action. They hopped over early in the morning, and about two or three hours afterwards, just as they were on the objective, Miller was badly wounded. Informant did not see him hit, but came up shortly after with a message and saw him lying in a semi-conscious condition in a sunken road to which he had been brought after being hit. Informant heard that Miller died of his wounds and he was probably buried in the vicinity. According to Informant Miller was very popular with his mates.'

Fourth statement, 1641 Corporal W.W. WOODHOUSE, B Company, 4th Bn, 15 March 1919: 'Informant described Miller as about 5 ft 9 inches high, rather stout build, aged about 2728 years. A Scotchman by birth. Informant states that Miller was in A Company. On 23.8.18 the Battalion was in action against Proyart and captured it. They hopped over at .30 a.m., and when they had advanced about 3 kilometers Miller was shot by Machine Gun fire. Informant was about 50 yards away, and saw him fall, but had no time to go over to him; he believes that he died in the 4th Battalion Dressing Station. It was very well known in the Battalion that Miller was buried in a Village the name of which Informant could not remember about 4½ kilometers South of Proyart. According to Informant Miller was one of his best cobbers, and one of the best liked in the Battalion.'

Fifth statement, Pte L. GRAY, A Company, 4th Bn, 19 March 1919: 'Bob Miller was a Sergeant in A. Company, 4th Platoon, tall fair, fair, reddish hair, well built. I saw him just after he was hit through the stomach by Machine Gun fire on 23rd August about 9 to 9.30 a.m. during the advance at Proyart. We had just reached a sunken road when he was hit. He was conscious but I did not speak to him. Did not see any more of him.'

Sixth statement, 131 Sergeant J. Maguire, 4th Bn, 7 December 1918: 'I knew Miller well - he was in "A" Company. We were at Proyart on the above date. We were in an attack and just digging in, when a shell came over and wounded Miller seriously. He was carried back, I saw him on the stretcher, but he was then unconscious and died soon afterwards. I knew he was buried but do not know where. He was medium height, snowy hair, about 26 years of age, born in Scotland.'