Frederick Thomas Orton Miller
From Our Contribution
 | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 16 May 1915 |
| Place of Birth | Kelmscott, Western Australia |
| Death | 10 Jul 1988, aged 73 |
| Age at Enlistment | 25 years, 3 months |
| Description | 5'10½" (1.79m) tall ; ; fair complexion ; blue eyes ; sandy hair ; scar on left leg |
| Occupation | Labourer |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Address | 44 Geddes street, Victoria Park |
| Next of Kin | Mother , Mrs Florence Mary Miller |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | W7041 & WX11908 |
| Date of Enlistment | 29 AUg 1940 (CMF) & 29 Apr 1941 (2nd AIF) |
| Rank | Private |
| Unit/Formation | 2/11th Australian Infantry Battalion |
| Military Movement | |
| 1st Departure from Australia | |
| Journey Dates | 9 Sep 1941 ‒ 23 Sep 1941 |
| Transport Details | HMT Queen Mary Fremantle to Egypt |
| Return to Australia | |
| Journey Dates | 16 Feb 1942 ‒ 17 Mar 1942 |
| Transport Details | HMT Durban Castle Egypt to Adelaide |
| 2nd Departure from Australia | |
| Journey Dates | 5 Nov 1944 ‒ 13 Nov 1944 |
| Transport Details | HMT Katoomba Townsville to Aitape, New Guinea |
| Return to Australia | |
| Journey Dates | 3 Feb 1946 ‒ 8 Feb 1946 |
| Transport Details | HMAS Manoora Wewak to Sydney |
| Post War Details | |
| Fate | Returned to Australia |
| Medals |
1939-45 Star Pacific Star War Medal 1939-45 Australian Service Medal 1939-45 |
Pre War
War Service
Fred enlisted in the CMF on 29 Aug 1940 and was allocated to the CMF's 11th Battalion. He attended a camp of 70 days duration from 1 Oct until 9 Dec 1940 before enlisting in the 2nd AIF at the Claremont camp on 29 Apr 1941. On 2 May 1941 Fred was transferred to the No. 3 Training battalion at Northam, and three days later he was sent on pre-embarkation leave until 11 May 1941. On 9 September he embarked on HMT Queen Mary in Fremantle for the Middle East as part of Convoy US 12A. On 23 Sep 1941 they disembarked and Fred was sent to the 21st Australian Infantry Training Battalion to begin his training. On 24 Oct 1941 he was transferred to the 19th Australian Infantry Training Battalion before joining the 2/11th Australian Infantry Battalion on 22 Nov 1941.
On 16 Feb 1942 Fred and his unit embarked on HMT Durban Castle, disembarking in Adelaide on 17 Mar 1942. Following leave and a period based in Adelaide they departed for Queensland on 13 Jul 1943. On 5 Nov 1944 the battalion embarked on HMT Katoomba for Aitape in New Guinea where they disembarked on 13 Nov 1944. Fred remained with the 2/11th Battalion for the rest of the war.
With hostilities over, on 1 Nov 1945 Fred transferred to the 2/5th Australian General Transport Platoon, and on 8 Dec 1945 he was transferred again, this time to the 126th Australian General Transport Company which in turn posted him to the 58th Transport Platoon the same day. On 2 Feb 1946 Fred was transferred to the holding strength of Western Command Recruit Reception & General Details Depot. On 3 Feb 1946 Fred embarked on HMAS Manoora at Wewak for Sydney where he disembarked on 8 Feb 1946. On 17 Feb 1946 he reached Western Australia where he was discharged on 20 Feb 1946.
Post War
Frederick Thomas Orton Miller of Mt Lawley passed away in 1988, aged 73 years (b.1915)
Notes
A couple named Frederick and Florence Miller lived in Jarrahdale at the time Frederick Thomas Orton Miller was born in 1915. The couple had lost a 5-year-old daughter, Sissy, to illness in 1914. Although there is no definitive link to the younger Frederick Thomas Orton Miller, it is likely these are his parents, living in the district, with the husband having the first name Frederick and the wife having the name Florence (matching the next of kin listed on Frederick Thomas Orton Miller's enlistment papers). Florence Celia Miller (nee Rowley) passed away in April 1916, when Frederick Tomas Orton Miller was less than one year old.