Able Seaman Jack Mills
Royal Navy
Born: 10th March 1926.
Story
Jack was the son of Fred Mills and Annie Lambert, who had married in Kippax on 26th December 1913, and lived at 41 Mount Pleasant. Jack served on board HMS Cleopatra (pictured below), the flagship of Sir Arthur Power, Commander-in-chief of the East Indies Fleet (pictured right). He therefore saw history made, when he travelled to Singapore on the first ship into the newly recaptured base in September 1945, after which his commanders made arrangements for the surrender of the Japanese. Jack had shipmates from Leeds, Methley, Crossgates and Glasshoughton, and the Yorkshire-based contingent intended to collectively celebrate the end of the War once they got back home.
After the war, Jack married Dorothy Whitehead in 1949, and they lived at 9 Mount Pleasant. Jack returned to Kippax from Yemen on 17th February 1959. He was living at 18 Sandgate Terrace until 2003, when he moved to Garforth. Jack passed away at Leeds General Infirmary on 25th October 2017 at the age of 91.
Kippax Roll of Honour 