Robert was born in Bacchus Marsh, VIC in 1897 to Charles Oliver and Clara Grace Mills. Robert had two brothers, Charles and Ernest (also KIA), who are also remembered in the Avenue.

DOW

Robert was a printer's feeder and gave his address as Richmond, VIC when he enlisted in the AIF, 4^th Reinforcements, 59^th Battalion on the 11^th of May 1916, aged almost 20 - he was still serving in the Senior Cadets at Clifton Hili and the permission of his guardian, John Mills, was given. He embarked aboard the HMAT A67 Orsova in August and disembarked at Plymouth, England in September.

Robert forfeited 38 days pay for overstaying his leave in October before joining his unit in France in December. At the end of March 1917 he was admitted to a Divisional Rest Station suffering from diarrhoea, then to hospital in Rouen, France, then invalided back to England and admitted to the 1^st Southern General Hospital, Stourbridge, Birmingham and then transferred to the 3^rd Auxiliary Hospital with enteritis - discharged in late May. Robert rejoined his unit in France in January 1918 but in April was wounded in action - penetrative gunshot wound to the head - and admitted to the 3^rd Australian General Hospital, Abbeville, France where he died two days later.

Robert was buried in the Abbeville Communal Cemetery Extension, France.

He is listed on the Bacchus Marsh & District Roll of Honour and the Holy Trinity Church Roll of Honour.

Notes

1. He was in the 59^th Battalion