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Australia

Albert Miell was born in Auburn, South Australia on the 11th of November, 1869. Before the First World War, Albert Mill was a pastoralist and a soldier. He was five foot, nine inches tall and weighted eleven stone, nine pounds. He had a wife by the name of Lily Mabel Miell (nee Gale) and four children: Edith Irene Miell, Horatio Gordon Miell, Lindsay De Lisle Miell, and Lily Kathleen Miell. The family owned Yalpara Head Station, South Australia, but they lived in Crystal Brook.

He was forty-four and nine months old when he enlisted for World War One. Albert Miell enlisted for World War One on the 15th August 1914 and was ranked Lieutenant Colonel for the 9th Light Horse Regiment’s Headquarters. Albert Miell and his unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, Australia on board the Transport A10 Karroo on the 11th of February, 1915. Albert Miell’s war service in World War One was in Egypt and Gallipoli. He had previous military experience, which included fighting in the South African (Boer) War, the 5th contingent, Australian Bushmen and had twenty-two years with the 2nd Battalion Australian Regiment.

On the 4th of August at the reserve camp the Regiment was ordered up to firing line to participate in attack on the hill ‘Baby 700’, being part of a general attack on Turks in North Gallipoli. Then on the 7th of August at ‘Baby 700’ attack commenced after heavy bombardment by howitzers. A howitzer is a piece of artillery with a short barrel and the use of quite small propellant charges to force projectiles over rather high routes, with a sheer angle of descent. The 9th Regiment formed Brigade Reserve and gave full support to the 8th Regiment and 10th Regiment who were unsuccessful an suffered very heavy losses whilst directing fire from a parapet (A parapet is made into the side of the trench that is directly facing the enemy line. It is several feet of sand bags built in order to protect the heads and shoulders of soldiers manning the fire-step the parapet is invariably lined with several feet of sandbags). This was where Lt. Col. Miell was killed.

Lieutenant Colonel Miell was killed in action at ‘Russel’s Top’, Dardanelles, Gallipoli at the age of forty-five. Albert Miell is now buried at the Ari Burnu Cemetery (Row A, Grave Number 17), Gallipoli, Turkey.

Cemetery details: Ari Burnu Cemetery, Gallipoli Peninsula, Canakkale Province, Turkey

Commanding Officer of the 9th Light Horse Regiment, Albert Miel was killed at the Nek.  His Regiment was in Reserve and did not take part in the attack, but he and a number of his men were killed on the priphery of the attack mounted by the 8th and 10th Light Horse Regiments.

"COL. MIELL'S INJURY. The Lads Fought Well.

Much anxiety was felt by the numerous friends of Lieut.-Col. A. Miell when, the fact was published that he had been wounded in the fighting at the Dardanelles. In a letter dated June 8, and received by the latest mail by his daughter, Miss Eileen Miell, of First avenue, Joslin, the colonel states how he received the injury. He says:—

"I managed to get a bullet across the top of my head on Sunday. Fortunately it is only a scalp wound, although it bled freely, and I got weak from loss of blood, it did not hurt much. The regiment is now out of the trenches resting for a few days. The doctor insisted that I should come away from the front for two or three days to get rest and comfort. To please him I did so, though I did not like leaving the boys. The lads fought well. I am very proud of them, and the general was very complimentary concerning their work in the trenches. It was quite a relief to get on a comfortable mattress. We have nothing but an oil-sheet and blanket at the front, and the ground in Turkey is very hard indeed. I think it very fortunate that I was no taller, or I would probably have got the bullet in the temple or eye. There is some compensation in not being so high as Ben Hunt. Most of the boys who have been killed have been shot in the head. The captain of this ship vows that he is going to take me to Alexandria, but I can not spare that time. I will go ashore before the ship leaves, and I can go back to the front on a sweeper or destroyer in a night or so. I do not worry as long as I can rejoin the regiment before we go into the trenches, again. I am none the worse for my wound, and three days' rest will put me right. A shell-case came crashing into my dugout last week. It struck the wall and rebounded and hit me on the calf of the leg, but did no harm at all. Tell the kiddies that every day my boys shot several Turkish snipers. We lost a few good men. When the Turks attacked us we gave them an awful doing. I hope before long that we will be in Constantinople." - from the Adelaide Observer 17 Jul 1915 (nla.gov.au)

The late Lieut.-Col. Miell wrote the following letter to Mr.W J. Sowden, President of the Wattle Day League and of the Cheer-up Society. The note was dated from Gallipoli Peninsula, August 2, 1915:-

"My regiment goes into the trenches for 14 days. Then out in reserve for 14. We have now done three terms in the trenches and are having our third rest. As a matter of fact, it is just as dangerous, and not half as interesting in reserve as it is in the firing line. It would be amusing, if it were not so painfully sad the way the great dailies of Australia have spoken of us holding Maidos and dominating the heights around. We hope to dominate them in a few days. At present every part of our position can be shelled any hour. As I scrawl these few lines in my dugout, overlooking the blue waters of the Mediterranean, a few shells are playfully shrieking overhead. Sometimes one plumps into a dugout. If it bursts, and the occupants are at home, some souls go out on the east wind, who died for Britain's sake. Long before this reaches you the criticism of The Times will have been read by you, and you will know that history has repeated itself here. J. Bull always starts a campaign like this. Still, we are going to win; but at what a cost! The weather here has been very warm, but not oppressively hot during the daytime; it is delightfully cool at night, and we enjoy our dip in the briny. It will be lovely when we clear up the situation here, and can resume our roles as mounted troops. Trench warfare is not inspiring, and does not appeal to a cavalry man. I delivered your message from the Cheer-ups to the regiment. All the men were delighted to hear from you. We claim that the society which has done and is doing so much good was largely brought into existence because the 9th light Horse was a crowd of friendless bushmen. The charming girls took pity on them, and so the excellent society was brought into existence through the powerful agency of The Register. The grateful thanks of the regiment go out to the society. I am very proud of the splendid fellows in the regiment. Of course, there are a few wasters in the forces, but very few indeed in the 9th. I am sorry that this will not reach you in time for Wattle Day. If I am through the great attack, my thoughts will be with you and the Wattle League. I will try to get a cable through to you. Of course, cables are very difficult to get away from here. It is a case of sending them with some one to Egypt. Possibly next by Wattle blossom Day the war will be over, and the survivors back in dear Australia inhaling the sweet scent of our national blossom. Four days after this letter was written the gallant colonel was killed instantly in action." - from the Adelaide Register 07 Oct 1915 (nla.gov.au)