The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of Lieutenant Colonel Albert Miell VD (MiD) 9th Australian 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 Robyn Siers, the story for this day was on Lieutenant Colonel Albert Miell VD (MiD) 9th Australian Light Horse Regiment, AIF, First World War.

Lieutenant Colonel Albert Miell VD (MiD) 9th Australian Light Horse Regiment, AIF
KIA 7 August 1915
Photograph: H06396

Story delivered 10 December 2014

Today we remember and pay tribute to Lieutenant Colonel Albert Miell VD.

Albert Miell was born on 11 November 1869 to Harry and Ellen Miell in Auburn, South Australia.

He grew up in Auburn and attended Auburn Public School, after which he went on to Way College to study commercial subjects. On completing his studies Miell became a farmer in the Crystal Brook district. He also joined the Citizens’ Military Force at the age of 19, initially serving with the 2nd Battalion, Australian Rifles. By 1896 he had been promoted to warrant officer.

He married Lily Mabel Symons on 17 February 1897, and by 1910 two daughters and two sons had been born to the couple. A third son, born that year, died only months after his birth.

After being promoted lieutenant Miell served in South Africa from 1901 until 1902 with the 5th South Australian Imperial Bushmen. This unit was attached to Colonel Beauvoir De Lisle’s brigade, and over the following 12 months travelled vast distances and saw heavy service which contributed materially to the ending of the Boer War. By the end of his service Miell was commanding his regiment’s D Squadron and had been awarded five service clasps for his Queens’ South Africa medal. He returned to South Australia in May 1902 and resumed farming at Crystal Brook.

Miell continued his career in the Citizens’ Military Force and in 1912 he was promoted to lieutenant colonel and given command of the 24th Light Horse Regiment.

When the First World War began Miell immediately applied for a commission with the newly raised 3rd Light Horse Regiment. He was appointed lieutenant colonel and given command of the 7th Light Horse Regiment before being transferred to command the 9th Light Horse Regiment being raised in South Australia and Victoria.

The unit came together and trained in Victoria under Miell’s guidance. In February 1915 the 9th Light Horse embarked for Egypt aboard the transport ship Karoo.

Miell and his men were not given long to settle into their training in Egypt. With the Australian infantry suffering heavy casualties on Gallipoli, the men of the light horse were sent to bolster the defences.

The 9th Light Horse Regiment reached Gallipoli on 21 May and the following day relieved men of the Auckland Mounted Rifles on Walker’s Ridge. Miell and his men spent the next months in and out of the line there.

On 7 August the 9th Light Horse was in reserve during the fateful attack on The Nek. As the men attacked towards Chunuk Bair, Miell’s regiment provided fire support. During the day, while leading his men from the front line, Miell was shot and killed. He was later laid to rest in the cemetery at Ari Burnu. He was 45 years old.

In September that year Miell was posthumously mentioned in Sir Ian Hamilton’s dispatches.

Albert Miell’s name is listed on the Roll of Honour on my right, along with more than 60,000 others from the First World War. His photograph is displayed beside the Pool of Reflection.

This is but one of the many stories of service and sacrifice told here at the Australian War Memorial. We now remember Lieutenant Colonel Albert Miell, and all of those Australians who have given their lives in service of our nation.

Michael Kelly
Historian, Military History Section