More about Charles Mill

Charles has no known grave but is remembered on the Arras Memorial.

Charles Mill   ZX/19   Hood Bn Royal Naval Division

Bandsman Charles Mill, who resides at 16 Annfield Road, has only been slightly wounded.  He was employed as a stretcher bearer, and while acting in that capacity was struck in the forehead by a spent bullet.  Bandsman Mill was attached to the Hood Battalion, Royal Naval Division, and is a member of the Dundee Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Band.

Dundee People’s Journal 19th June 1915

A BROTHERS SAD DUTY.

After emerging practically unscathed from some of the hottest actions of the war since its commencement, Charles Mill, a young Dundee lad, has made the supreme sacrifice for his country while assisting to bring in a wounded comrade.  It fell to a young brother—also out from the start—to break the painful tidings to those at home.  The deceased lad was 25 years of age, the second son of Mr and Mrs John Mill, 16 Annfield Street, Dundee, and as a member of the local R.N.V.R. band was among the first to cross the Channel.  With his comrades he laid down the musical instrument for stretcher work, and it was while in charge of a party of German prisoners engaged in carrying the wounded that he was killed.  A shell wiped out the whole party.  He took part in the siege of Antwerp, the landing at Gallipoli, the Somme, the Ancre, being only once wounded precisely a year ago.

Dundee People’s Journal 5th May 1917

Family Background:

Charles` father, John ,was a slater and chimney sweep and the family lived at 20 and then 16 Annfield Street, Dundee. His brother, William, was also a bandsman with the RNVR Unicorn band pre war.

Service History:

Charles had been a pre war Unicorn band member and joined up with his younger brother, William, at the outbreak of war. He fought at Antwerp and then Gallipoli where he was wounded in the skull in May 1915.In France he served at the Somme and at Ancre, Puisieux and River Trenches. He was supervising the recovery of wounded soldiers with a party of German prisoners when the entire group was wiped out by a shell.