Royal Canadian Field Artillery and Canadian Mounted Rifles (SA), Canadian Field Artillery (First War). Canada; Queen’s South Africa Medal 1899-1902, 3 Clasps - CAPE COLONY, ORANGE FREE STATE, BELFAST (335 DR: C.E. MILLS, R. CANDN: ART:); British War Medal (MAJOR. C.E. MILLS.); and Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service Medal, George V (MAJOR C.E. MILLS 6th BTY C.F.A.). Naming is officially impressed. Un-mounted, original ribbons, edge nicks, contact marks, very fine. Accompanied by copies of his Attestation Papers and Service Records from both conflicts.
Footnote: Charles Edward Mills was born on January 4, 1872 in Mount Brydges (west of London), Middlesex County, Ontario, the son of MR. and Mrs. Charles Jones Mills. He was a Driver (1888-1889), a Bombardier (1889-1892), a Corporal (1892-1897) and a Sergeant (1897-1899), and later a Captain, with the 26th Regiment, Canadian Light Infantry, before he enlisted for service in South Africa, as a Driver with the 2nd Special Services Contingent. He signed Attestation Paper (335) with “D” Battery, Royal Canadian Field Artillery, on January 1, 1900 in London, Ontario, for service in South Africa as a Driver, at the age of 27, naming his next-of-kin as his father, Charles Jones Mills of Norwood Hall, London, Ontario, stating that he had previous military service with the 6th Canadian Field Battery, that he was Single, that his religion was Episcopalian and that his trade was that of Stock Farming. His first disembarkation was in Cape Town, South Africa, credited with being involved in operations in the Transvaal, east of Pretoria from July to November 29, 1900, including actions at Belfast on August 25th and 27th and Lydenburg from September 5th to the 8th, 1900, in operations in the Orange River Colony from May to November 28, 1900 and in operations in Cape Colony, south of the Orange River from 1899-1900. His time expired due to the cessation of hostilities, on January 10, 1901. He returned to Canada and later re-enlisted for addition service in South Africa with the Canadian Mounted Rifles, as a Sergeant Major (377), signing his Attestation Paper in Halifax, Nova Scotia on May 14, 1902, at the age of 30, then disembarking in Durban, South Africa on June 16, 1902, discharged once again at the cessation of hostilities. For his South African service, Mills was awarded the Queen's South Africa Medal with three clasps: Cape Colony, Orange Free State and Belfast. He is shown in the Denby/Roncetti roll for the medal and the clasps. MIlls was appointed a Provisional Lieutenant on February 6, 1905, a Lieutenant on April 6, 1905, a Provisional Major on February 13, 1906 and a Major on August 24, 1907. He was placed on the Reserve of Officers on January 17, 1910. Mills was in England when the First World War broke out and was a Major in the British Army with the 169th Howitzer Battery, Royal Field Artillery, from October 4, 1914 to March 2, 1915.
He then then joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force on March 10, 1915. In his own words: "Being abroad at the time the CEF was being organized, I offered my services to the Royal Artillery, and commanded the 169th Howitzer Battery, until my appointment with the CEF". He signed his CEF Officers' Declaration Paper on March 10, 1915, at the age of 43, naming his next-of-kin as his mother, Mrs. C.J. Fields of Windsor, Ontario, stating that he had previous military service with six units (as a Major with the Reserve Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery; as a Major with the 169th Howitzer Battery, Canadian Field Artillery; as a Captain with the 26th Regiment, Middlesex Light Infantry; as a Sergeant Major with the 6th Canadian Mounted Rifles in South Africa; as a Driver with "D" Battery, Royal Canadian Field Artillery in South Africa; as a Major with the 6th Field Battery, Canadian Field Artillery), that he was not married and not designating a trade. He was taken on strength of the Canadian Expeditionary Force in the rank of Major and appointed to command No.'s 1, 2 and 3 Depot Batteries, Canadian Field Artillery, on March 10, 1915. Major Mills was taken on strength as an Assistant Gun Instructor with the Reserve Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery on April 26, 1915, a position he would hold until September 13th, when he was taken on strength of the 29th Battery, 8th Howitzer Brigade, followed by a posting to the Reserve Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery on October 21st. He was placed on command and proceeded to France for Gun Instruction on August 14, 1916. Major Mills returned to Canada a month later, on September 15, 1916, the reason for his return stated as "You are being returned for the purpose of offering your services there". He was struck off strength of the Canadian Expeditionary Force on December 9, 1916 and for his First World War service, received the British War Medal only. Mills received his Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service Medal by Government Order 97 in 1925.