The Soldier's Details

Millar enlisted AIF 6 Dec 1940 later joining 2/4th’s ‘C’ Coy, 11 Platoon as a Driver.

 

 

Millar with Arnold Vivian Cousins WX9092 – Cousins lost his life when ‘Rakuyo Maru’ sank in  South China Sea 14 September 1944 aged 33 years.  Both men were in ‘C’ Company, 11 Platoon as were Harold Clayden and John Robinson.

Millar was also best mates with Alex Colquhoun WX9109 from Sawyers Valley who was also ‘C’ Coy 12 Platoon (with Harry De’Castilla).    Colquhoun perished South China Sea as did Cousins.

 

 

In 1946 Millar marries Jean Siggens.  Jean’s sister Joye marries 2/4th mate Bill Steele in 1951. Steele, Millar and Siggens families all resided in Mundaring at one time.

 

 

After the war Hubert Millar initially returned to Mundaring where he and his brother Harry worked his father’s store.  His father died in 1946 and some time after this, Dusty and his wife Jean moved to Mullewa where they took up ownership of ‘Cutbush’s Store’ at Mullewa.  (His mother May also moved to Mullewa).  They remained here throughout 1960’s to 1980 when they returned to Perth and were residing 126 Morley Drive, Nollamara (Electoral Roll 1980).  Dusty’s occupation was recorded as proprietor – it would seem possible he took up storekeeping!

In 1949, Millar is playing football for Kalamunda against Mundaring who had Harold Steele playing their team.

 

Below:  from ‘Mullewa Mail’

Also in the town of Mullewa was a store owned by former 2/4th Gabriel ‘John’ Wade.  Bill  Grundy of 2/4th worked on a farm out of Mullewa at Tardun.

 

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‘Dusty’ Millar went AWOL off ‘Aquitania’ when she anchored at Gage Roads off Fremantle for one night 15 January 1942 – for resupply and to pick up reinforcements.  Millar was one a 100s – many managed to find a ride back to ‘Aquitania’ before she sailed 16th – but about 90 men missed their ship.

Please read further and learn what happened!

After landing Java Dusty Millar was one of a party whose  task was guarding the aerodrome at Semplak near Buitzorg with 2/2nd Pioneers Battalion (A Company).

He was captured 9 March 1942 and imprisoned as POW at at Bicycle Camp Batavia from  13 May 1942 to 8 Oct 1942.

He was selected to work on the Burma end of Burma-Thai Railway with ‘A’ Force Burma No. 4 Group Williams Force.  Please read further.

He sailed from Java to Singapore on ‘King Kong’ Maru.

He departed Singapore 14 Oct 1942 for Rangoon, Burma on ‘Maebasi’ Maru, then sailed from Rangoon to Moulmein on ‘Yamagata’ Maru.

He started working on 26 Dec 1942 at 131km and 133km Camps,

When the rail link was completed towards the end of 1943, the Japnese began moving all POWs working in Burma south to Thailand.  Dusty was sent to Kanchanaburi, Thailand and then onto Tamakan 6 Sept 1944.

From Tamakan he was one of a work party sent to  201km Camp – Linson Wood Camp (near Hindaine) then onto Petchaburi, Kachu  Mountain Camp.

He was recovered from Nakom Nayok Camp, Thailand.at the end of the war and into Bangkok.  From Bangkok most Australian POWs flew to Singapore.  Large numbers of British POWs took flights to Rangoon  – Dusty flew to Rangoon then onto Singapore on ‘Highland Brigade’.  From Singapore he sailed to Fremantle on ‘Tamaroa’.

Please read about boys from Wooroloo, Mundaring and Perth Hills

 

 

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In 1946 Hubert Millar married Jean Riggins.

 

Cutbush’s Store – Mullewa – applications for liquor license

He was a great community man.  Millar was a sportsman and an active member of both Sawyers Valley and Mullewa sporting clubs.

Millar died at Yokine 11 August 1990 aged 68 years.  Jean had died in 1980 at Yokine.