Eric William Mills
From Our Contribution
 | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 27 May 1919 |
| Place of Birth | Ninth avenue, Armadale, Western Australia |
| Death | 23 Jul 1995, aged 76 |
| Place of Death | Mandurah, Western Australia |
| Age at Enlistment | 22 years, 8 months |
| Description |
5'8½" (1.74m) tall ; 162lbs 73.482 kg ; fresh complexion ; brown eyes ; black hair |
| Occupation | Tractor driver |
| Religion | Congregational |
| Address | Seventh road, Armadale, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Wife , Mr. Emanuel Mills |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | 46254 |
| Date of Enlistment | 13 Jan 1942 |
| 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
War Service
Eric first signed his entry papers on 23 Dec 1941, but was formally enlisted in the RAAF Reserve at No. 4 RAAF Recruiting Centre on 13 Jan 1942 as an Trainee Group I, and was sent the same day to the No. 4 Recruit Depot RAAF at Pearce airbase to undertake a basic drill course from 13 Jan 1942 until 6 Feb 1942. On 8 Feb 1942 Eric was transferred to the No. 5 School of Technical Training RAAF in Perth to undertake the No 31 Trainee Group II Fitter Course. On 1 Apr 1942 he boarded the SS Tanda in Fremantle for Port Melbourne (disembarked 8 Apr 1942) to participate in the No. 124 Flight Riggers Course run at the No. 1 Engineering School RAAF in the Ascot Vale, Melbourne.
Training completed, on 11 Jun 1942 Eric was remustered as a Flight Rigger. Then on 26 Jun 1942 he was transferred to the No. 4 Service Flying Training School RAAF at Geraldton and on 11 Sep 1942 he was appointed Leading Aircraftman. While at 4SFTS he had erred in some way as he had been admonished by the Officer Commanding and forfeited a day's pay.
He was sent back to the No. 1 Engineering School RAAF to undertake the No 82 Fitter IIA Course from 12 Nov 1942 until 20 Jan 1943, after which he was remustered as an Fitter level II, reverting to the rank of Aircraftman at the same time. Eric was transferred following the completion of his training on 27 Jan 1943 to the Maintenance Wing of the No. 1 Air Observers School RAAF at Cootamundra for three weeks until he was posted to the No. 1 Aircraft Depot RAAF at Laverton in Victoria on 16 Feb 1943, remaining with them until 17 May 1944 when he enjoyed seven days pre-embarkation leave before he was sent to the No. 4 Personnel Depot RAAF in Adelaide for reassignment. While with the Aircraft Depot he was appointed a Leading Aircraftman on 1 May 1943, and had enjoyed 19 days leave from 17 Jun 1943 until 5 Jul 1943. He had also married Barbara Eileen Leverington (1926 - 2018) on 29 Jan 1944.
On 18 Jul 1944 Eric was posted to the No. 2 Reserve Personnel Pool RAAF at 54 Mile in the Northern Territory and three days later on 21 Jul 1944 he was posted to the No. 14 Aircraft Repair Depot RAAF at Gorrie, remaining with them until 9 Oct 1945 when he joined the No. 5 Personnel Depot RAAF in Perth until 21 Nov 1945 when he transferred to the No. 25 (City of Perth) Squadron RAAF at Cunderdin. During that time he had enjoyed 28 day's leave from 10 Oct 1945 until 6 Nov 1945. However, on 12 Dec 1945 he began his demobilisation process by being posted to the No. 5 Personnel Depot RAAF who discharged him on 25 Jan 1946.
Post War
Son Frederick Evan Mills was born on 12 Oct 1944. Siblings followed in 1947 and 1950, plus 2 others.
Electoral Roll entries: 1949 at Ninth avenue, Armadale, grazier; 1954 at Ballidu, manager; 1968 - 1977 by himself at 15 Clayton street, East Fremantle, fitter.
Notes