Mildren honours great uncles

But the adventure was short lived. The eldest brother Albert, was shot and killed in action during the battalion’s first major battle, the Battle of Messines between June7 and 9, 1917.

Private Mildren said that the youngest brother, Charles, witnessed his eldest brother’s death before single-handedly storming a German trench, killing and wounding nine of the enemy. He would later be awarded the Military Medal for other separate feats of bravery.

“Meanwhile, the third brother Walter, broke his leg falling into a trench and later had to have the limb amputated.”

The Mildren brothers are just one example of how much the Great War impacted the young Commonwealth of Australia. From a population of fewer than five million, 416,809 men enlisted, of which almost 62,000 were killed and 156,000 wounded, gassed, or taken prisoner. Nearly every Australian household was affected by a casualty of the Great War.

Unlike modern operations, the Australian soldiers fighting abroad rarely received leave and unless evacuated, could not return to Australia for reprieve.

Private Mildren said this led some, like the mischievous Mildren brothers, to bend the rules and “understandably so,” Private Mildren said.

“On 19 October 1916, the three of them stayed out all night and were charged with being AWOL [Absent without Leave]. Their punishment? One day’s pay and seven days confinement to the barracks.”

Private Mildren has spent much time researching the brothers’ stories, his interest growing with his own newfound career in the military.

In his research, Private Mildren came across the site of Albert’s burial place, and on his recent commemorative tour to Belgium visited the quaint Strand Military Cemetery.

Surrounded by autumn leaves, Private Mildren carefully placed earth collected from the centre of Australia on the limestone headstone of Albert Jacob Mildren: “a token from home, to keep him company”.

“I felt extremely emotional. It was nice to be able to visit his headstone, to have a chat and tell him about my service and how I will always remember them and what they did for us.”

Private Mildren, who is based in Townsville, commemorated Remembrance Day at the Australian National Memorial in VillersBretonneux, France.

He attended the commemorative service in full ceremonial uniform, and during the one minute’s silence reflected on those who served while “standing proud to carry on the Mildren name.”