Contributed by Ron Inglis, October 2021
Miller H is one of four names on the Auburn War Memorial that cannot be matched with any service record kept at the National Archives of Australia.
The National Archives has 1,292 files of men with the surname Miller who enlisted for service in the First AIF. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission lists the names of 130 Australians with the surname Miller who died in the First World War. Ten of these Millers have the initial H, but in the documents there is no evidence of connections with Auburn. No Miller H appears on any of the Auburn school or church honour rolls, but Miller H is on the Municipality of Auburn Honour Roll 1914-1919. The surname Miller appears five times on Auburn’s South Parade Temporary Roll of Honour, two of them have no initials and none of the others are Miller H.
Miller H was added to the Auburn War Memorial after unveiling day, 30 April 1922. The closest connection is to 777 Harold Herbert Miller, 37, who enlisted at Kensington in Sydney on 29 August 1914. His occupation was given ‘Locomotive hand’ and ‘Railway Workshops’. His next-of-kin were listed as his parents at ‘West Tamworth Railway Station’.
Harold Herbert Miller served on both Gallipoli and in France, but suffered severe shell shock and other ailments and he was deemed unfit for further active service. He embarked on the Themistocles on 27 April 1917 to return to Australia, but died on board of heart failure the next day. He was buried in Plymouth (Efford) Cemetery. It is possible Harold worked in railway workshops in Sydney with Auburn men and they put his name forward after the unveiling of the Auburn Memorial. Another possibility is that Harold's parents had a link to Auburn.
Miller H is honoured on the following memorials in Australia:
His decorations:
- Victory Medal
- British War Medal 1914-20
If the Miller H on the Auburn Memorial is 777 Harold Herbert Miller, then he is also honoured on the following:
- NSW Government Railways and Tramways First World War Honour Roll, Central Station
- Anzac Park First World War Memorial Gates, Tamworth
- Roll of Honour Australian War Memorial, Canberra