Cecil John MILLER

Cecil John MILLER Update Details

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MILLER, Cecil John

Service Number:	VX14322
Enlisted:	20 February 1940
Last Rank:	Private
Last Unit:	2nd/2nd Pioneer Battalion
Born:	Euroa, Victoria, Australia, 1 January 1919
Home Town:	Hedley, South Gippsland, Victoria
Schooling:	Not yet discovered
Occupation:	Rabbit Trapper
Died:	Natural Causes, 21 August 1999, aged 80 years, place of death not yet discovered
Cemetery:	Broadford Cemetery, Victoria Plot: Beam E, Grave 26
Memorials:	Ballarat Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial

World War 2 Service

20 Feb 1940:	Enlisted Private, VX14322
8 Mar 1940:	Transferred Private, Recruit Reception Depot, Taken on strength Recruit Reception Depot Melbourne.
8 Mar 1940:	Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Private, VX14322, 2nd/2nd Pioneer Battalion
18 Mar 1940:	Transferred Private, Infantry Training Battalions, Infantry Training Bn at Williamstown.
4 Apr 1940:	Transferred Private, 2nd/5th Infantry Battalion , Posted to Puckapunyal to 2nd/5th Infantry Battalion.
14 Apr 1940:	Embarked Private, VX14322, 2nd/5th Infantry Battalion , Embarked Melbourne Australia for Middle East, 14. 4. 1940.
18 May 1940:	Embarked Private, VX14322, 2nd/5th Infantry Battalion , Disembarked Kantara, Palestine.
30 Aug 1940:	Wounded Private, VX14322, 2nd/5th Infantry Battalion , Evacuated to 1st Australian General Hospital (1st A.G.H ) at Gaza with Scarlet Fever on 30. 8. 1940. Rejoined unit 6. 9. 1940.
9 Apr 1941:	Embarked Private, VX14322, 2nd/5th Infantry Battalion , Embarkation to Greece Campaign. Graded to Group II Cook from M.E School of Cookery 29. 6. 1940.
31 May 1941:	Embarked Private, VX14322, 2nd/5th Infantry Battalion , Disembarked from Greece or Crete on 31. 5. 1941 to Dimra in Palestine.
23 Oct 1941:	Transferred Private, 2nd/2nd Pioneer Battalion, Taken on strength 2nd/2nd Pioneer Battalion, serving in 2nd Echelon in Dimra, Palestine.
2 Jan 1942:	Wounded Private, VX14322, 2nd/2nd Pioneer Battalion, 2. 1. 1942 Evacuated 53 British General Hospital with abdominal pain. 7. 1. 1942. Evacuated to 9 Australian General Hospital. 28. 1. 1942. Discharged from 9 A.G.H. and returned to Pioneer Battalion.
3 Mar 1942:	Embarked Private, VX14322, 2nd/2nd Pioneer Battalion, Cecil Miller Embarked from the Middle East on "SS Orcades" to return to Australia, however the Orcades was diverted along with several other ships to assist with the Japanese thrust and the 2nd/2nd Pioneer Battalion landed in Batavia, Java. The unit, along with many more were reformed into a force called Blackforce. Blackforce went into action against the Japanese on the 4th of March 1942 and fought for two days but was ordered to lay down their arms the day after the Dutch Surrender on 8 March 1942. The majority of the 2nd/2nd survived the fighting (865 Officers and Men)
29 Apr 1942:	Imprisoned On 29. 4. 1942. Cecil was reported missing in Action, at Batavia, Java. Not all of 2nd/2nd Battalion working with Blackforce were captured and those that escaped went with the ships carrying the battalion's rear echelon troops, baggage, and stores and returned to Australia.
22 Dec 1943:	Imprisoned Cecil was confirmed a POW 22. 12. 1943 and advised as being Interned in a Thai Camp.
19 Aug 1945:	Imprisoned Telegram to: Mrs. R. Miller Ryans, BLDYS, Olive ST Albury NSW 19. August 1945, advising Cecil is alive in Siam.
14 Dec 1945:	Discharged Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Private, VX14322, 2nd/2nd Pioneer Battalion

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Biography contributed by Ant McLean

26. 9. 1941.

Dimra, Palestine.

2nd Echelon.

OFFENCE: AWL from 0600 hrs on 6. 6. 1941 to 2100 hrs on 6. 6. 1941. Award tried by C.O 2nd/5th Bn, Awarded forfeiture of 1 day pay.

11. 12. 1941

Dimra, Palestine.

Relinquished of Group II Cook.

22. 1. 1942.

Dimra, Palestine.

Evacuated to 53 British General Hospital with abdominal pain, then transferred to 9 Australian General Hospital.

Returned to Duties at 2nd Echelon

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