Royal Navy – HMS Benbow
Frederick Mills (who seems to have been known as Fred) was born at Cheltenham on 31 May 1885, the son of William and Ann Mills; his father was a plumber. At the time of the 1911 Census the family home was at 34 Keynsham Street, Cheltenham but by 1918 they may have moved to number 34 in the same street.
Fred left his occupation as a haulier to join the Royal Navy, for the duration of hostilities, on 6 September 1917. His initial posting, on 24 November 1917, was to HMS Brilliant, a light cruiser (sunk as a blockship at Ostend in 1918). On 26 January 1918 his record states that he transferred to HMS Ambitious (Naval HQ in London) but this has ‘Thistle’ in brackets after it. This could indicate he was part of the crew of a gunboat or was employed ashore in the London HQ. He remained there until he joined the dreadnought battleship HMS Benbow on 22 October 1918.
On 3 November 1918 he died of influenza and pneumonia at South Queensferry Naval Hospital, Scotland, age 33 (although his headstone states 34).
He was buried in Cheltenham Borough Cemetery, where his grave is marked by a CWGC headstone. He is commemorated on the Cheltenham Borough Cemetery.
Researched by Graham Adams 10 September 2012
(Acknowledgement to ‘Leaving all that was Dear – Cheltenham in the Great War’ by Joe Devereux and Graham Sacker)