The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (53) Driver Harry Lees Millington, 4th Light Horse Regiment, AIF, First World War.

The Last Post Ceremony is presented in the Commemorative area of the Australian War Memorial each day. The ceremony commemorates more than 102,000 Australians who have given their lives in war and other operations and whose names are recorded on the Roll of Honour. At each ceremony the story behind one of the names on the Roll of Honour is told. Hosted by Craig Berelle, the story for this day was on (53) Driver Harry Lees Millington, 4th Light Horse Regiment, AIF, First World War.

53 Driver Harry Lees Millington, 4th Light Horse Regiment, AIF
KIA 27 November 1915
Story delivered 13 August 2018

Today we remember and pay tribute to Driver Harry Lees Millington.

Henry Millington, known as “Harry”, was born in 1893 to William and Alice Millington of Bendigo, Victoria. Little is known of his early life, although it is likely he grew up in or around the town of Axedale. He went on to work as a grocer’s assistant for a Mr David Crosby at Beach Forrest. Harry was Chief Ruler of the local Rechabites Tent and was reportedly “very popular in the Axedale district”. He was also gaining prominence as a local footballer the year before the war began.

Harry Millington enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force shortly after the outbreak of war in August 1914. He was posted to the 4th Light Horse Regiment, and after a period of training in Australia, left for active service overseas in mid-October of the same year.

The 4th Light Horse was first sent to Egypt to continue their training. In early 1915 Harry’s brother Frank enlisted in the AIF, going on to serve with the 7th Infantry Battalion. The brothers would not meet on Gallipoli. Harry was reportedly “willing, a good horseman, always smart and clean on parade, and as proud of his two horses as anyone in the regiment”.

The light horse were initially considered unsuitable for operations on Gallipoli, but a high casualty rate and a lack of reinforcements meant that they were sent to the peninsula without their horses in late May. Millington was posted to the regiment’s machine-gun section.

The 4th Light Horse Regiment spent most of its time on Gallipoli manning defensive positions and participating in minor operations.

During this time Driver Millington was known as someone who “was always so cheerful in the trenches, and did so much good by cheering others in the black hours of war”.

On the evening of 27 November 1915, “word was passed along the trenches that the Turks were heavily reinforced, and to keep an extra sharp lookout” so that the Australians would not be taken by surprise. Everybody stood to, and flares were constantly sent up in order to look for signs of a Turkish attack. During the excitement, Driver Harry Millington was shot in the head. He was killed instantly.

Millington’s body was taken to Shell Green, where he was buried by the Church of England Chaplain. His mates later erected “a nice cross over his grave”. Harry Millington was deeply mourned by his mates. Lieutenant Chanter wrote: “Harry was an old comrade of mine, and one we all admired for his sterling qualities. He was a gentleman and a grand soldier – one who never shirked his duty no matter what happened. Everyone who knew Harry liked and respected him.”

Another lieutenant who had trained Millington in Egypt wrote to his parents, “If I was to write all night my appreciation of Harry would not be sufficiently good, as he lived well, a good clean life, and you may justly be proud of one of the best boys in the Machine gun section.”

After the regiment returned to Egypt, Harry’s brother Frank came to their camp to meet his brother.

After hearing the news that Harry had been killed, Frank was “dreadfully cut up.” He wrote to his parents to say “It came as a great shock to me. I am very proud to say he died doing his duty.”

Driver Harry Millington is still buried on the Gallipoli Peninsula. His gravestone bears the words, “the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away”.

He was 22 years old.

His name is listed on the Roll of Honour on my right, among more than 60,000 Australians who died while serving in the First World War.

This is but one of the many stories of service and sacrifice told here at the Australian War Memorial. We now remember Driver Harry Lees Millington, who gave his life for us, for our freedoms, and in the hope of a better world.

Meleah Hampton
Historian, Military History Section