18th Battalion, Australian Infantry, A.I.F

[bts1970]

Evening all, one of the Aussie enlisted lads on the Memorial

1326 Private (Bugler) FREDERICK JOHN MILLS.

18th Battalion, Australian Infantry, A.I.F.

Missing in action aged 20 on the 22nd August 1915 Gallipoli.

His military records show recording of him being killed between 21st – 25th August 1915, , Formal date

Of death given as 22nd August 1915, Turkey.

18th Battalion diary describes for the above mentioned dates

20th August (Friday) Left Egypt, “we go tomorrow” 7 stowaways onboard.

21st August, Left lemnos 5.45 pm, gun flashes & roar 9.15 pm , saw gunboats in action.

22nd August, Landed at daylight, took up positions in reserve gully near WATSONS PIER.

There then appears to be a gap in the diary until 26th August.

The 5th Inf Brigade diary records

18th August, 18th Battalion to “Partridge”, left 1740 for Anzac.

20th August “ANZAC”, arrived 0200, again mention of RESERVE GULLY. 1500 hrs entry mention a

move to BAUCHOP HILL.

21st August, Orders received to attack SADIR BAIR.

22nd August, 18th Battalion moved to SOUTH WALES BORDERERS GULLY

I was interested to note that in the casualty lists for the dates that the 18th didn`t have any casualties at all,

maybe after the war there is another more upto date record of these few days that can be recommended to

me.

Any help with better descriptions / map scans of the locations either map or google earth etc will be most

welcome.

Best regards

Bob

[Bryn]

The 18th Battalion suffered heavy casualties at Hill 60, in the far north of the Anzac sector, on 22nd August 1915. Volume 2 of the Australian Official History has a very good account of the Battalion on that day. Here's an extract:

'Major Powles appears to have sent the next company - Major McPherson's - to follow Goodsell's. By this time, however, at least three machine-guns in the scrub on Hill 60 were directed upon the wheatfield at its foot; and a heavy enfilading fire was being poured in from the left in a northward extension of Goodsell's trench, where a Turkish officer with drawn sword could be seen pointing out to his men the target at which they should fire. The left of McPherson's company, emerging through a large gap in the hedge, was broken while attempting to deploy. Other platoons issuing through openings south of it were met by tremendous fire, but a proportion crossed the field, finely led by some of their officers...' (Bean Vol. 2 p742-3 quoted, 744n).

And a bit more from other sources:

'Three days after landing at Suvla Bay, we marched all one night, and at daybreak on Sunday, August 22nd, went into action at Hill 60. As we came out into the open, we were mowed down by machine gun fire, and Lieut. Leslie, who was leading C. Coy, was one of the first to fall. The dead lay there all that day, but, on the following morning, a burying party buried him and others in a common grave, as there was no time to dig separate ones, and we were even then under fire and lost several of the party. The service was read by the Rev. Waldon, a Methodist chaplain, late Minister of a Methodist Church in the suburbs of Sydney. Lieut. Leslie who came from Sydney, was a very brave officer, and led his men without hesitation. He was much liked in the regiment and his death was greatly regretted.

(Reference - Pte., late 18th Battalion, A. Coy.)

'Fell during the charge at Hill 60 on the 22nd August. Witness saw the body lying out between the trenches for some time. There were thousands of bodies lying between the trenches and the Turks set fire to the gorse to burn the bodies and rid the place of the fearful stench which was almost unbearable and informant believes the body was burnt.' (Statement by Sgt. of 18th Battalion, made from Luna Park Hospital, Heliopolis, Cairo, 26 Dec 1915).

[bts1970]

Many thanks for the reply

I have quikly browsed the site in your signature & found descriptions for all save the SOUTH WALES BORDERERS GULLY referance, many thanks for your time

Best regards

Bob

[gilly100]

There is supposedly a history of the 18th Bn AIF due out sometime soon - possibly this year 2013. Try Regimental Books in Oz for more info.

The 18th Bn war diarist appeared very reluctant or unable to give casualty figures from the Hill 60 fighting between 21-31 August (roughly) until well after the fighting, but 22 August was the day the Bn was so decimated, although the men fought on at Hill 60 on 27/28 August in the next concerted attempt to seize the hill. This Bn suffered some of the highest casualties at Hill 60 of all the units that fought there. The 5th Aust Inf Brigade war diary finally gives some figures between 21-25 August of 5 off and 41 KIA, 6 and 189 WIA and 0 and 142 MIA, 3 and 11 sick. Stayed around Hill 60 into early and mid September. While I recognise in other areas of Gallipoli, such as Chunuk Bair, Helles and Suvla, higher unit casualties were sustained, some in single actions, I am merely focusing on the Hill 60 ops for my comments.

Looking forward to the new unit history coming out.

Cheers

Ian

Bali

[bluedog]

Ian

Good account of the 18th.at Hill 60 in John Hamilton's "The Price Of Valour"

[Waddell]

I have previously found this article on the 18th Battalion at Gallipoli informative-

http://www.forbessoc...ocs/18thbtn.pdf

I am wondering if there will be anything new to add to this story in the 18th Battalion history when it finally arrives.

Scott

[WhiteStarLine]

http://www.forbessoc...ocs/18thbtn.pdf

Scott, a balanced article and a sad read, with arguably forseeable consequences. Interesting conclusion from the last paragraph - if the battalion commander was really so responsible why did so many of his fellow officers act as guard of honour for his post-war wedding? Thanks for posting.

[Waddell]

Interesting conclusion from the last paragraph - if the battalion commander was really so responsible why did so many of his fellow officers act as guard of honour for his post-war wedding?

I'm reading Joe Maxwell's 'Hell's Bells & Mademoiselles' at the moment and Maxwell was straight to the point in his assessment of Chapman's treatment-

"Our colonel was later relieved of his command, but to this day I am convinced that he was merely selected to shield someone higher up".

He wrote the book in 1932 and he certainly would have been in a position to make a judgement. Speculatively Colonel Chapman may well have done well had he time to prepare his Battalion properly. Certainly the 18th Battalion drew the short straw in the 5th Brigade just prior to the action.

Scott

[gilly100]

Certainly Joe Maxwell had the onsite experience and later, the credentials to make his call. To me it was pretty obvious that having just landed, like some other units at Suvla, and then thrust into a charge with no bombs or real intelligence, smacks of desparate times and desparate measures, with a very sad outcome for the commanding officer and the battalion in general. The fact that the 18th Bn fought on at Hill 60 and did some very good work in seizing more ground speaks volumes for the men themselves. Any new unit history on this unit would be welcomed, not just for their baptism at Gallipoli, but then the Western Front. I tips me lid to the author for having a crack and look forward to the read.

Ian

[bts1970]

All

Many thanks for your thoughts & comments. Just to add some more regarding Frederick, here are eyewitness statements taken after his death. Its when you read such accounts that you begin to get a feel for the day & action undertaken.

Eyewitness statement taken 02/02/1916 from Bugler A E Dunshee, A Coy 18th Battalion.

Bugler Mills was in a charge on Sunday morning 22nd August 1915. He came on a Turkish machine gun in the charge and endeavored to use it on the Turks. Whilst doing this he was wounded in the wrist. Shortly afterwards he was shot through the heart. His body was brought in on the Monday or Tuesday. Sgt Major Burnett A Coy, 18th Battalion, told witnesses he saw the body and got some papers from it. Witness heard the Adjt of the Battalion say that the body was buried in a cemetery near Hill 60. Witness statement made at No3 Hospital, Heliopolis.

Eyewitness statement taken 07/02/1916 from Pte P C Thomas, C Coy 18th Battalion.

Witness saw Mills just before the action Hill 60 and also during the charge. There was only one Bugler, Mills in the Company. He was struck by a bullet and killed on the spot. Does not know as to burial. He was quite a young fellow, tall and thin, very popular. Witness statement made at Gezira Hospital, Cairo.

Eyewitness statement taken 13/03/1916 from Bugler McClaren, D Coy 18th Battalion.

Witness says that Mills was in the charge on 22/8/15, but advanced and was hit in the arm or leg, and went back, got his wound dressed and went back again to the front. He got into the Turks trench and got to position with machine gun. He said now I have the thing I do not know how to use it. Then he was blown out. His head was smashed by machine gun or by a shell and he died. He came from England but had relatives in Botany. Confirmed by W H Berg, D Coy.

Eyewitness statement taken 13/03/1916 from Pte Farmer, B Coy 18th Battalion.

Mills was killed at the side of the witness at Hill 60 on Aug 22. He was shot dead. The bullet passed through his identification disc through his body, and out at his back. He fell dead. Witness took everything he could from Mills body and handed these things to the Battalion. The Sgt Major of the Battalion had them when last heard. Mills body was buried by the Connaught Rangers at Hill 60. Witness statement made at Mosscar Camp, Ismailia.

Eyewitness statement taken 14/03/1916 from Pte Scanlan, D Coy 18th Battalion.

Witness say he saw Mills running back to the Sikh trench from which they had charged, with his arm bandaged. Witness say he saw him fall just before he reached the trench and that when witness came back after the retreat he pulled his dead body in. He had been shot through the heart. Witness cannot say as to where he was buried. Confirmed by K Devlin.

Regards

Bob