Imperial German flag : Corporal J S Millner, Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force

Imperial German flag which consists of horizontal black,white and red stripes, with the white stripe expanding to a roundel in the centre. The flag is finely screen printed and the centre of the roundel contains a crowned Prussian eagle in black, red and gold. The upper and lower left corners of the flag have had reinforcing patches added.

Associated with the service of Lieutenant James Stokes Millner, who was born in Marrickville, NSW on 28 July 1891. Millner studied engineering at Sydney University, where he also served in the Sydney University Scouts. He had begun working as a Civil Engineer when the First World War began.

On 11 August 1914, he enlisted for service with the Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force (ANMEF), which was being raised at the Sydney Showgrounds. He was allocated the service number 259 and the rank of private before being posted to B Company, 1 (Tropical) Battalion.

He was promoted to corporal on 18 August and embarked with the ANMEF from Cockatoo Island the following day aboard HMAT A35 Berrima. After a brief period of training at Palm Island, the force proceeded to New Britain where after an initial landing early on 11 September, the waiting infantry went ashore in the afternoon.

The following day, after re-embarking, they landed at Rabaul and the Union Jack was raised over the town that afternoon. All armed resistance ceased on New Britain by 17 September. In mid October, Millner was sent as a member of a small force under the command of Major Francis Heritage to Kawieng (Kavieng), New Ireland to occupy the island and secure the release of the British Consul, Frederick Jolley. The force arrived at Kawieng on the afternoon of 17 October and landed unopposed. The Union Jack was immediately hoisted over the town. The German District Officer was summoned to surrender.

Heritage and the main party departed that afternoon to hunt the German ship Siar, hidden amongst the Gardner Islands, leaving Lieutenant Basil Holmes in charge of a 10 man garrison. Millner remained on New Ireland and assisted in securing the release of Frederick Jolley by 20 October. He acquired this flag during his time at Kawieng.

Millner later returned to Rabaul and was promoted to lance sergeant on 1 February 1915. He returned to Australia later that month aboard SS Eastern and was discharged from the ANMEF on 4 March.

Millner applied for a commission in the AIF in October 1915 and was accepted with the rank of second lieutenant. He was posted as a reinforcement to 13 Field Company Engineers. He embarked from Sydney on 20 January 1916 aboard HMAT A54 Runic.

After arriving in Egypt in late February, Millner was initially sent to Zeitoun, before moving to Tel El Kebir, where he joined his unit on 18 March. On 22 March, he was sent to Cairo to undergo a medical examination. He went before the Medical Board on 29 March, where it was found that he was unfit for further duties due to deafness.

Millner was recommended for discharge from the AIF and on 12 May, he embarked from Egypt aboard Karoola for Australia. He was discharged from the AIF on 22 August 1916. Millner died at Bowral, NSW in April 1919, having never fully recovered from the effects of Malarial fever he contracted in New Guinea during the war.

Millner's two brothers, Thomas George and William Wickham also served during the First World War.