Frederick Walter Miller
From Our Contribution
 | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 19 Aug 1909 |
| Place of Birth | 'Heidelburg Vineyard, Albany road, Armadale, Western Australia |
| Death | 23 Mar 1988, aged 78 |
| Place of Death | Willagee, Western Australia |
| Age at Enlistment | 32 years, 2 months |
| Description |
5'10½ (1.79m) tall ; 134lbs 60.781 kg ; Medium complexion ; blue eyes ; fair hair |
| Occupation | Farm hand |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Address | Merredin, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Wife , Mrs. Thelma Merle Miller |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | 45915 |
| Date of Enlistment | 30 Oct 1941 |
| Rank | Leading Aircraftman |
| Unit/Formation | No. 25 (City of Perth) Squadron RAAF |
| Post War Details | |
| Fate | Remained in Australia |
| Medals |
War Medal 1939-45 Australian Service Medal 1939-45 |
Pre War
On 17 Mar 1934 Fred married Thelma Merle Edwards (1913 - 2005) in the Wesley Church, Cottesloe. Thelma died on 30 Mar 2005, aged 91 in Meadow Springs. They had two children, Valda Lorraine (b.3 May 1935) and Dorothy Faye (b.24 Feb 1941)
Electoral Roll entries: 1931 - 1943 at 'Glen View Farm', Korbel, farm labourer.
War Service
While Fred enlisted in the RAAF Reserve on 8 Aug 1941 he was not called up until 30 Oct 1941 when he enlisted as an Aircraftman I at No. 4 RAAF Recruiting Centre in Perth. The same day he joined the No. 4 Recruit Depot RAAF at Pearce airbase to undertake the No. 28 Drill Course. On 24 Nov 1941 Fred joined the No. 4 School of Technical Training RAAF in Adelaide before graduating to the No. 1 Engineering School RAAF at Ascot Vale in Melbourne on 25 Jan 1942. There he undertook the No. 124 Trainee Tech Fitter Course. On the completion of his training he was posted to No. 4 Service Flying Training School RAAF in Geraldton on 28 Apr 1942, having qualified as a Flight Mechanic on 18 Apr 1942. On 18 Jul 1942 Fred was appointed as a Leading Aircraftman.
From 1 Nov 1942 until 16 Feb 1943 Fred undertook further training at No. 1 Engineering School RAAFat Ascot Vale in Victoria, and on 14 Jan 1943 he was remustered as a Fitter Grade IIE. He then returned to No. 4 Service Flying Training School RAAF in Geraldton on 25 Feb 1943, and remained with them until 27 Dec 1944. Fred was transferred to the No. 5 Personnel Depot RAAF in Perth from 28 Dec 1944 until 22 Jan 1945. He then joined the No. 25 (City of Perth) Squadron RAAF at Cunderdin on 23 Jan 1945 udertaking a Liberator conversion course from 13 Feb - 6 Mar 1945. On 5 Sep 1945 Fred was sent back to the No. 5 Personnel Depot RAAF where on 6 Sep 1945 he was granted a discharge on compassionate grounds. (He had been granted three periods of Special Leave Without Pay during his service 17 - 23 May 1943; 25 May to 21 Jun 1944; and 21 May to 19 Jun 1945 to assist with the farm, but the discharge was granted to allow him to assist with the youngest child.)
Post War
Electoral Roll entries: 1949 at 19 Rudwick street, Mosman Park, council employee; 1954 at Ongerup, storekeeper; 1958 at 13 Lapsley road, Claremont, press hand; 1963 - 1980 at 10 Arkwell street, Willagee, storeman;
Notes
On 31 Jan 1970, he formally changed his name from Frederick Wallace Muller, to Frederick Walter Miller. His father was Charles Theodor Otto Muller (1857 - 1946).