Other Properties - Aust. Groups

Lot 3643    SESSION 8 (2.00PM THURSDAY 30TH JULY)    Other Properties - Aust. Groups

Estimate $6,000
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $8,500

DCM, MM GROUP OF FIVE: Distinguished Conduct Medal (GVR type 1); Military Medal (GVR type 1); 1914-15 Star; British War Medal 1914-18; Victory Medal 1914-19. 316 Cpl G.F.Miller. M.M. 1/D.S. Coy Aust: E. on first medal, 316 A.Cpl G.F.Miller. D.S. Coy Aust: E. on second medal, 316 Pte G.F.Miller. 2. Bn. A.I.F. on third medal, Lieut. G.F.Miller. A.I.F. on last two medals. All medals impressed. Swing mounted, some contact marks on second medal, otherwise very fine.

DCM: LG 4/3/1918, p2757; CAG 25/7/1918, p1591, to Cpl G.F.Miller, 1st Aust Division Signals Coy.

Recommendation: At Remus Wood east of Ypres during the operations on 4th Oct., 1917, Cpl. Miller displayed conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. At a critical stage of the battle when the forward telephonic communication between Cable Head and Forward Station was temporarily disorganised by shell fire, he led his linesmen out and laid a special line through an intense enemy barrage and established communication. After this line had been laid he organised his linesmen as stretcher bearers and safely brought in 5 badly wounded men through the heavy enemy barrage. Throughout the whole operation his personal supervision and assistance to linesmen resulted in continuous telephonic communication being maintained between Cable Head and Forward Station. Awarded Military Medal 25/9/17.

MM: LG 19/11/1917, p11975; CAG 7/3/1918, p399, to Acting Cpl. G.F.Miller, 1st Aust Division Signals Coy.

Recommendation: At Hooge on September 16th Cpl. Miller, after the Signal Officer in charge of a carrying party bringing up cable for burying in the front line, had been killed, took charge and succeeded in bringing the cable to the front line through very heavy enemy barrages. On three separate occasions Cpl. Miller re-organised the carrying party, each time coming through a heavy barrage, and it was only by his gallantry and splendid perseverance that the cable was buried at a critical time.

George Finch Miller, telegraphist, age 28, born at Leamington, Cambridge, New Zealand; Enl.17Aug1914 at Randwick, Sydney, NSW, with previous service in Waikato Mounted Rifles; Emb.18Oct1914; proceeded to join MEF at Gallipoli 05Apr1915; tfr from 2Bn to Div Sig Coy at Gallipoli 10Jul1915; to L/Cpl 17Nov1916; to Temp Cpl 21Aug1917; awarded MM 25Sep1917; to Cpl 28Sep1917; to Temp Sgt 20Oct1917; WIA 30Oct1917 gassed, Belgium; awarded DCM 20Nov1917; to Cadet School 22Jan1918; to 2/Lt 13Jul1918; to Lt 13Oct1918; RTA 16Jun1919; Appt terminated 15Aug1919.

On 17 May 1913 it was reported in the Auckland Star newspaper that 2Lt George Finch Miller, 6th (Hauraki) Regt had been dismissed from the defence forces for absence without leave. It is also interesting to note that he stated he had previous service with the Waikato Mounted Rifles when he enlisted in the AIF. Nonetheless, details of the manner in which Sergeant Miller was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal were reported in the New Zealand press in the Ohinemuri Gazette and in the Dominion on 30 August 1918 and in the Te Aroha News on 2 September 1918. George died on 1 February 1970 at Mornington, Victoria and was cremated on 3 February 1970 at Springvale Crematorium. His record of death shows that George Finch Miller was an 82-year old former maintenance officer with the State Electricity Commission (retired at age 65) who was born in New Zealand but lived in Victoria for 50 years and also that his father, James Napier Miller was a Presbyterian missionary.