MILLS, Benjamin Henry



No.6465, Lance Corporal, Benjamin Henry MILLS
Aged 26


2nd Battalion, Suffolk Regiment
Killed in Action on Thursday, 30th September 1915


An Old Contemptible


Benjamin Henry Mills was born on 17th February 1889 in Bury St.Edmunds,(Bury St.Edmunds Q1-1889 4A:721) baptised in St Mary's Bury St Edmunds on 3rd April 1889, son of Samuel Edward and Fanny MILLS (née HILLS)

1891 census...Aged 2, he was at 3 Pleasant Row, Bury St Edmunds wiuth his father Samuel E MILLS [29] a soldier, born Stowmarket; his mother Fanny [34] born Aston, Herts and sister Olive [2 months] born Bury St.Edmunds.

1901 census...Aged 12, he was at The Post Office, Risby, with his father (labourer), mother; sisters Olive and Hilda [6] born Warley (Essex) and brother George [7] born Colchester.

1911 census...Aged 22, he was a tailor in Suffolk Regiment at Stanhope Lines, Aldershot. On The Green, Risby were his parents (father a road foreman for district council) and brother George (farm labourer)

CWGC have his mother living at Manor Cottage, Risby. His father died in Q2-1915.



He enlisted in Bury St Edmunds.
In the second attack of Bellewarde, a counter attack was ordered on the afternoon of the 30th September. An artillery bombardment of the mine crater, which was not very effective, ceased at 3:15 and three companies of the 4th Middlesex, 2nd Royal Scots and the 2nd Suffolks advanced. The commanding officer of "A" Company (Capt E C Smith) was killed immediately, but under Capt. De Castro the attack carried on. Despite heavy machine gun fire and bombing they managed to reach the edge of the crater, but were halted by un-cut barbed wire. 3 more officers were killed at this point and the attackers were forced to withdraw. Amongst the 120 casualties was Benjamin Mills. The 4th Middlesex had 17 killed, the Royal Scots 7 and the 2nd Suffolks had 35 killed of which 20 have no known grave and are named on the Menin Gate in Ypres.



family gravestone in Risby




photo: Commonwealth War Graves Commission



Benjamin Mills is commemorated on the Menin Gate, Ypres panel 21

click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details


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