MILLS, Noel Reginald John

MILLS, Noel Reginald John – A Southern Downs Veteran

CONFLICT : Vietnam
SERVICE NO : 1200423
RANK : Chaplin
UNIT : Royal Australian Army Chaplains Department
ENLISTMENT DATE : 5/01/1965
AGE : 38
PLACE OF ENLISTMENT : Brisbane, Queensland
PLACE OF BIRTH : Sydney, New South Wales
RELIGION : Church of England
OCCUPATION : Clergyman
DATE OF DEATH : 20/05/1971
PLACE OF BURIAL : Queensland Garden of Remembrance

MEMORIALS : Kallangur Vietnam Veterans’ Place, Port Pirie Vietnam Veterans Honour Wall, Seymour Vietnam Veterans Commemorative Walk Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour

View Veteran’s Service File : File not open to the public

NOTES : Noel was born in Sydney on December 23, 1926, to World War One veteran Reginald Percy Brake Mills 5075 and Gladys Elizabeth Alice Mills.

The Electoral Roll show the family had moved to Warwick, Queensland by 1943 and were living in Canning Street. Noel attended Slade School and was a member of the Cadet Corps. On February 8, 1945 while undertaking Ecclesiastical Studies, Noel enlisted in the Citizen Military Force along with his father.

Noel married and his wife was Josephine Margaret Joan Mills and they had four children. Noel and Josephine lived at Cannon Hill where Noel carried out his Clerical duties.

On January 5, 1965 at the age of 38, Noel initially enlisted for four years in the Army achieving the rank of Chaplin 4^th Class. He was to later extend his enlistment period twice more. His service record shows the following:

24^th January 1966 – departed from Perth bound for Singapore and the 28^th Commonwealth Infantry Brigade.

19^th March 1968 he returned to Australia from Malaysia and he posting was with the 28^th Commonwealth Infantry Brigade.

8^th May 1969 Noel departed from Townsville with 6 RAR on HMAS Sydney bound for Vietnam and HQ 1 Australian Task Force at Vung Tau.

16^th May 1970 he returned to Australia from Vietnam and was posted to HQ Liverpool Area.

14^th January 1971 Noel was admitted to the 2^nd Military Hospital.

20^th January 1971 Noel was transferred to the Repatriation General Hospital Concord, Sydney.

20^th May 1971 Noel died of illness at the Repatriation General Hospital Concord.

From his history it is clear to see Noel devoted his life to the service of God and his country in the form of his military service. Noel was interred at the Queensland Garden of Remembrance, Pinnaroo Cemetery and Crematorium, Bridgeman Downs, Brisbane.

Read about Southern Downs Military History here.